Once you have decided on a lender and get pre-approved let us know, so we can celebrate that first step and you can start the 2nd step.

One was purchased a  few years ago by an out-of-state owner who has decided to sell and has doubled in value.

Appreciate it @Mohammed Rahman decided to sell and move on to the next deal with more knowledge.

That helps you eliminate properties but not decide what to buy.   

So, when that happens, you won't really have to decide, you'll just know it's a great deal and you'll shorten your timeline!!  

, 2) it manages the properties directly so there are many hands in the cookie jar, and 3) how/when/impact if "they" decide to liquidate properties and what would be the exact impact to me? 

Like you, I focus on the sell side but decided to try the buy side with BP lead generation. 

3) how did you decide on the specific city you chose to invest in?

He kept cash and investments on the side should he decide to get back in, 5 years from now when they come back.  

.- If you decide to have an LLC for each property, creating a Management LLC that all the other LLCs "hire" to run their books, will allow you to only require a bank accont for the Management LLC.2) You may not be able to do a Trust.