In addition, doing fewer deals than that will most likely mean that they don't have a legit team of pros to back you- PM, GC, Plumber, lender, etc- if they aren't feeding them constant business, those contractors won't drop their current jobs to help you in an emergency. 

@Mark Allen - I would welcome the opportunity to review your plan/pitch deck.

Ensure you have an emergency fund for vacancies or repairs and verify market trends to confirm the investment supports your long-term financial plan.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

I am a first-time investor and am looking for a location (hopefully) where I can get decent appreciation while not having the risk of crazy negative cash flow (like one sees when doing the math on opportunities in Seattle, for example).

For savvy investors, the key to keeping more of your hard-earned returns lies in strategic planning and leveraging the right tools to minimize tax liability.Whether you're looking to reinvest in another property, take advantage of depreciation, or explore unique tax-deferral opportunities, there are powerful strategies available to help you reduce your tax burden and maximize your financial outcomes.

Surrounding yourself with experienced peers will open doors to learning opportunities and partnerships.Wishing you the best as you get started!

Yes, getting sued is a risk factor and I've been involved with frivolous lawsuits which are not fun, but in my opinion you'd be in a much better spot owning a property in your personal name that let's you keep an extra 10-20% of the purchase price in your pocket as emergency funds, as opposed to buying the loan under an LLC that requires every last penny you might have to make the higher down payment, then you have to operate on a shoestring.

Quote from @Bradley Buxton: @Matt J.SD has some great weather and opportunity. 

Higher Fees and Costs: Cross collateral loans may come with additional fees, such as appraisal costs for each property involved, which can increase the overall cost of borrowing.In conclusion, while cross collateral loans can provide valuable opportunities for accessing larger amounts of financing and potential cost savings, they also come with considerable risks and complexities that borrowers must carefully consider.

Investing outside of real estate: What other investment opportunities (stocks, REITs, or businesses) might make more sense in such a market?