Life throws too many insane curve balls IMO for you to be worrying about all these other things.. just focus on buying your first house.. and then, after a year.. buy another!   

If they higher than yours or in the same ball park you're good. 

If you just want to own a large portfolio you can create some LLC's and hold the properties in those LLC's.If you want a property management companies with property managers and stuff like that then thats a whole different ball game. 

I just recently learned (via my tenants reaching out to me as a last resort) that my property management has been dropping the ball big time so I terminated them.

I just recently learned (via my tenants reaching out to me as a last resort) that my property management has been dropping the ball big time so I terminated them.  

Think broadly: this could range from finding great deals to working with people, financing to building a brand, and anything in between.I'll start the ball rolling with two of mine:1.

I missed out on a year of acquisitions because I had blinders on (back to my wife on that story, once she finally "corrected me" were buying again... and having a ball doing it!

The more readily available properties right now are commercial but that is a very different ball game and I wouldn't recommend that to someone like yourself just yet.

The one I’m trying to buy never hit the market as my agent knew the seller and put me in touch with her to get the ball rolling (lucky).

@Ned Carey nobody has a crystal ball, but it’s smart to pay attention to history.