I have had some nice ultra "experienced" investor friends/family that forgot how failure got them to the next huge place in their life.  

In reality this would be my first investment purchase so my actual numbers will be ultra-conservative.  

That will determine to a degree what kind of first property you might be targeting.If you are ultra conservative on your purchase and do the correct due diligence usually you won't end up handing the keys back to the lender whoever they may be.What kind of return are you looking for with the cash invested??

The properties he described and suggested would have made poor investments.I had an agent last year who showed me a triplex and boasted about about the fact that the tenant in one of three units was also the handyman for the property.

Ohio has a great repossession law on land contract, close to evicting.ROFR or right of first refusal and a lease can be a tool to motivate the buyer to buy.Buyer Incentives like paying all closing costs or even "we will pay first 3 mortgage payments" like the apartment ads, or "free 99 inch plasma ultra smart tv with purchase" always help sellers sell------ For buyers buying on seller financing, I would first go to a RMLO or  registered mortgage loan originator; unless you've been under a rock since January 10, 2014 the federal government has made seller financing difficult.

Lot's of trash out there where I scratch my head why anyone would ever buy such a property.On the flip side there are investors who are ultra conservative throwing low balls out there when the market doesn't dictate that spread or yield.

Ultra low cap rates with limited upside tend to be for 1 to 2 crowds.1.

Spacious living area boasts a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, ceiling fan, and accent lighting.

But, at a high level, new (bigger, 100+) apartment buildings are put up by big developers, backed by their own money, banks, ultra high net worth individuals, etc.

Unless you are ultra successful I’d say that at any level that your company is currently at, paces program has something for you.