That piece is often underestimated by many.For the other key numbers:The structure is  Maximum Allowable Offer (MAO) = ARV - Holding Costs - Rehab - Closing Costs - ProfitARV (after repair value based on recent sales within a 1 mile radius.

Where I work and where the investment properties are/would be are about 150 miles apart.

The one that actually show's you how to pick up the properties cheap enough to have half a chance at success.

It's very attractive to me to have 3 houses that would all be free and clear in a year and a half but it would take much longer to get my money back.

I'm looking for deal structure, pros and cons, tips, etc.My goal is to buy some of these new small affordable starter homes at a price that will cash flow, after foregoing my half of the equity split. 

if you buy a random property thousands of miles away with a hefty down payment, you will lose money.you said you were concerned about the monthly payment. 

I screened Tenant B per usual, although they have the least rental history of anyone I've rented to and are getting a bit of the benefit of the doubt based on Tenant A having been good (plus they have a guarantor, the mother of both tenants).Tenant A is moving out half a month before their year-long lease ends.

I did have an interesting conversation with their "director of education" who spends an hour to see if potential students have what it takes to qualify for their limited number of coaching slots...in less than a half hour he decided I wasnt a good fit for their program, and hung up on me :-) My non proprietary "secret" is; think about who the buyer is, figure out what they want and give it to them.

The property is about 50 miles away so not possible to self manage.

It helps handle all the "back of the envelope" calculations a head of time for all listings within 50 miles of your city.