You would have no sphere of influence buying houses, your parents friends willstill view you as a kid and I'll be honest I wouldnot go with a teenager no matter how qualified unless it was your parents I was trying to build a relationship.

@Corey Chandler congrats on reaching out on BP - real estate investing is a team sport and the players you pick for your team will have a huge influence on the result.

"How to Win Friends and Influence People" Dale Carnegie7.

As a passive investor, you have no influence over day to day activities and you are investing in a security.

The property i mentioned is still in play though we did get some influence from a realtor over promising and also a relatively high appraisal report which was surprising as the comps don't add up,  this property is a bit unique in that it does have the second unit. 

Without one they may be exposed to risk (which doesn't influence you directly but I thought you should know.)

The Military has fought me frustration, over excitement, anger etc. are all feelings that can negatively influence a decision.

We are thinking of a Live in flip and hold or influenced by this blog https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/why-im-not-house-hacking , perhaps investing in our hometown in NJ which is somewhere we are more comfortable with and then essentially house hacking through their long distance cash flow in maryland.

Take your list and start researching who in your center of influence knows these people (or knows someone who knows them). 

To my hard money lenders or investors that understand the process better than I do, why do lenders account for the "as-is appraisal" when, in all reality, the ARV is what is going to be influencing the borrower's ability to satisfy the loan?