You'd learn and potentially earn a profit at exit.Another way is to wholesale the land.

My main question is whether it makes more sense to go the seller financing route and pay off the principal in 8–10 years or stick with a standard 30-year loan.My thinking is that the tax deductions from a mortgage wouldn’t outweigh the potential equity I could gain over those 8–10 years.

Here are some general guidelines: Lien Position1st Position LienEquityMinimum Down Payment of 20-25% (a 30% equity to sale price is preferred)Down Payment made in certified funds and not borrowedMaximum Funding of 70% ITV (Investment to Value)SeasoningMinimum of two monthly payments already made12 months or more preferredPayer CreditCredit Score of 650 or higherNo major derogatory trade lines (No 90-180+ days delinquent, foreclosure, repossession, bankruptcy, etc.)No decline in credit since purchase of businessTermsPrefer 60 months or lessMaximum of 72 monthsNo Balloon Payment preferredCash FlowBusiness has positive cash flow1.25 debt service coverage ratio preferred.DocumentationPersonal guarantee from a creditworthy individualStandard documents including Note, Security Agreement, and UCC-1 filing.Tax Returns on the business that substantiate profit and loss statements.OtherPayment history current and verifiablePayer Interview indicating buyer is satisfied with business and comfortable making paymentsMotivation for selling the note is not a result of a deteriorating businessConsideration of high risk businesses or geographic areasIn these situations, sometimes a partial is a better option. 

Instead of paying into someone else’s property, you could be using that allowance to finance your own real estate investment.In Germany, you have access to a stable market with long-term growth potential, and U.S. service members and government civilians have unique advantages here.

I am very new to real estate investing and I am now putting an offer in for my first potential investment property.

The deduction is optimized as values increase and can potentially offset the entire net investment (including down payment) for high wage earners.

Ideally, I’d be buying and selling and potentially managing properties as a job, and be working the gardens and hobby farming, potentially attending farmers markets on weekends (we both love to create things).

@Brooke Carlton I found a potential solution to this problem!

And What other conditions/terms/costs do you calculate when underwriting the potential of a deal?

They collect EMD from multiple potential buyers - then transferred the EMD into an interpleader accounts in hopes of absconding with all the EMD.