Check the HOA reserve budget to see if any assessments are on the horizon and the triple check your numbers.

Therefore, we are trying to aggressively save as much as possible between now and then to have a sufficient down payment (hopefully 3.5% with a FHA so long as we can qualify) and enough to cover closing costs and some reserve money for any unexpected circumstances.With student loan payments on the horizon, I’ve been contributing about $500 a month to my Roth IRA in anticipation of having to cut back dramatically in 3 months.My question is this: should I keep investing into my Roth IRA during my student loan repayment/saving for our first property or will losing a year to a year and a half of contributing really hurt me that much in the long run?

Also the goal has always been to have other people (rentals) pay the mortgages  which means doubling down to quickly pay off 1 mortgage equals using my money.Additionally, I do believe that there is a recession looming thus a bargain may be on the horizon in the next 2-3 years .

Is it wise to purchase investment property when there's a recession in the horizon??

There is always an economic crisis on the horizon. 

Hotel - Columbus, OhioPurchase price: $7,000,000Renovation: $5,300,000Expected Sales price at exit: $14M (worst case) to $17MCashflow: $400K to $500K/yrInvestment Horizon: 3-5 years2. 346 Apartment Units - 5 separate properties in Cincinnati, OhioPurchase price: $20,000,000Renovation: $4,000,000Expected Sales price at exit: $32M (worst case) to $45MCashflow: $1.2M - $1.6M/yrInvestment Horizon: 2-4 years3. 42-unit apartment - Bond Hill area Cincinati, OhioPurchase price: $1,500,000Renovation: $276,500Expected Sales price at exit: $2.6MCashflow: $80K-$100K/yrInvestment Horizon: 2-4 yearsDeals Sold (Closed)1.

Vacation rentals can be amazing investments, but they are also small businesses, so be prepared for that.Lack of a mortgage is great for a single property, but think about your time horizon and if/how you want to scale.  

Assessment of where you're buying and its 'frothiness factor'2 - Your need for cash flow vs longer term appreciation/equity building, mainly will depend on your time horizon with owning the asset3 - Your skills/ capabilities - some people are more naturally geared towards handling lower class areas, tenants, and usually the items that come up maintenance wise with this.The advice I usually give to 'youngins' (I'm 36 by the way) is to take the long view - which means the equity building, and your TIME to continue focusing on your career, building skills, etc - would lead me to be biased towards the property that you felt would hold / appreciate in value more over time.....

I heard on NPR yesterday that a buyer's market is on the horizon.

Based on my goals of long term passive income, I believe real estate investing is a get rich slow scheme so I try to approach RE investing with a longer time horizon - something like 10 years.