I've listened to many ways to structure deals and done my own math and (so far) have not been able to make something pencil out in the RE space that was in my comfort zone of risk.

I declined and suggested they move forward with the bid they felt most comfortable with at their own expense but they then seemed to threaten legal action in a veiled manner citing their understanding of Minnesota state law which they feel puts the duty for pest removal on the landlord.

in the slightly less desirable area, 12-1500 sqft (goal $14-1700/mo)1BR below it with living and dining, porch, and great stained glass and architectural features, 1000 sqft (goal $11-1300/mo)This building also has one driveway space thinking $50/mo2 x 2BRs, smaller but in the more desirable location ~1000 sq ft (goal $14-1600/mo)1 BR small in the more desirable location ~ 800 sq ft (goal $9-1100/mo)TR: 6200-7300/moOrder of operations would be as follows: 1) Accounting and structuring - still a lot TBD but I am meeting with a CPA firm with a lot of real estate structuring and consulting experience, I expect they'll be pretty expensive but this doesn't seem like a good place to cheap out.

So you are going to have to work through that fear and find a Qi who has the demonstrated experience and protections to make you comfortable.  

Hey Matt,I aggressively built a 12-door rental portfolio from 2019-2021, largely leveraging my HELOC.I always tell people that it's a fantastic tool as long as:- You can COMFORTABLY service the extra debt- You have a plan to pay it offI was ok with the extra debt servicing and my payoff plan was simply finding off-market deals, paying cash, doing cosmetic rehabs, and refinancing when done.

As an investor-realtor myself, I can guide you through several strategies to kickstart or enhance your investment journey, tailored to what you're comfortable with and your investment goals.House Hacking: This is a great entry point for many new investors.

Wholesaling is mostly about marketing and sales, so it will take a lot of practice for you to feel comfortable taking control of a conversation and closing a sale.

Sharing experiences, discussing local trends, and gaining local perspectives would be invaluable as I move forward with my investment goals.Additionally, if anyone has recommendations on how to find an agent who is experienced and comfortable working with international investors, I'd greatly appreciate that as well.Thanks in advance for any help and guidance!

If you feel more comfortable investing in your backyard then that's cool too. 

Their restaurants average about 5 million minimum in sales and some do 10 million annually which is staggering as it compares to a dine in Cheesecake factory with much larger tickets per person.They give employee chance from within to partially own and operate ONE store.