My initial impression is that it is risky for a first time investment.

The EMD also counts as a first impression and you never get a second chance to make a first impression.   

If you choose to impress friends and other investors you ignore the fact that your own cash is generating the income rather than the property.

Someone was advising us that we should start and LLC but I am under the impression that anything bought through an LLC would exclude us from conventional financing and push us into the commercial loan zone.

Good job on saving up those funds, very impressive. 

It was a high energy event that certainly left you motivated and impressed.

I knew I wanted to purchase a house, however my job waiting tables at a local Cracker Barrel wasn't exactly enough to impress underwriters.

Always try to improve the exterior and make a good first impression of those driving by. 

They didn’t impress me much (hard to live up to 40 years of hearing how magical they are I assume)  but Kauai was my favorite.

I was under the impression that the contractors themselves could inspect the home and provide me with an estimate.