As she personally knows the syndicator she may be able to garner far more info in conversations with them about this and other investments, which can give her an informational asymmetrical advantage over 99% of retail investors as well.  

Check out assumable mortgages online in those areas  You might be able to find a home with a lower interest rate for a reasonable downpayment.    

Retail on these condos is around $125k ea. 

They both have courses, online communities, podcasts, YouTube channels, etc. etc.

However, I'm just starting out and looking for some guidance on where to begin my journey.I've done some research online, but I'd love to hear from those with experience in this field.

Below are our total profits and information from online listing companies to verify the numbers.

Hi All,I am looking to buy a retail commercial property and looking for options for loan.

Renovated all apartments, converted M2M tenants to annual leases, instituted strict rental criteria, implemented online payment portal, invested $75,000 into leasehold improvements (HVAC, drainage, exterior paint, concrete.)

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

BP has some calculators you can use and there are other online tools, like DealCheck, for this purpose.