The value of cash in hand today vs cash in hand tomorrow is significant and you should account for that for both sides of the transaction for any deal that you make. sellers going to do their best to sell their asset for max price.

@Nicholas A. your shotgun approach has a high probability of getting the exact quality you put into it.95%+ of real estate agent, many of them posting they are "investor-friendly", only know how to deal with owner-occupied transactions. 

Ask about their reviews, do some research to see if they are actively closing transactions. 4.

I think what you’re referring to is a checkbook IRA so you can bypass the custodian when performing transactions/investing and all assets/accounts will be held in the name of a special purpose LLC or Trust which is the instrument that gives you checkbook control.  

However, the property must be in a safe location, which is sometimes further than 5 miles from the hospital.

Quote from @Andrea Lucarelli: I’m interested in beginning my REI career with purchasing a SFH or condo in Cleveland area (safe neighborhood) to list as a furnished rental for travel medical professionals, supply corporate housing needs, or house temporarily displaced families for insurance companies.  

You've got to include loan pay down, appreciation, and depreciation in your return calculations.The point of cash flow is to keep you safe.

Unfortunately due to the property values, the cash proceeds will be disproportionately impacted by transactional costs associated with the financing (doc prep, appraisal, recording etc.) which will also hurt the available proceeds compared to the same LTV financing of higher value real estate that can better absorb these transactional costs. 

There really isn't a safe, secure way for someone to protect their interests.

nothing new  or novel  in most transactions..