If local deals don’t work, look at cheaper markets out of state where rental returns are better.

When I first started out, I was insuring everything with USAA.

My mother originally agreed for me to refi some money out of the equity of a house we co own but then she changed my mind after I signed the contract on the guesthouse.  

we use madison management out of reno nv

Since I'm not a lawyer, there might be a specific reason, depending on your situation, why that might be useful.On the other hand, I've seen crazy large structures for small portfolios, and there are many attorneys willing to charge you for the help of setting them up. 

Get out of your comfort zone.

We  dont know if we are closing on the 1st of the month or the 30th of the month so we don't know if we are collecting 1 day of interest or 30 days of interest. 

Trump is talking of selling off government buildings and getting the federal government or GSA mostly out of the real estate business. 

Most that do this, are subs from large metro areas that do a lot of work with a reputable builder. 

Starting locally vs. out of state:I always recommend starting locally if it aligns with your goals.