Obviously would be a slower process, but would create very little debt hanging over your head.

They have perfected putting their head into the sand post cards are tossed, phone calls hung up on. 

"Head right on back to the back of the room and my associates will get you signed up today!"   

It was great to get our heads in the game, and got us to move quicker to get a house (since we were basically forced to get a pre-approved loan in order to tour houses...).

I need some help wrapping my head around everything.

While I'm grateful for the appreciation, there comes a purchase price for new acquisitions where the returns diminish rapidly and tougher to find properties that fit my buy box. 

. - Why you think commercial will head for huge retrenching?

Once you have done 100-200 deals you can really estimate in you head when you see a deal, so that 100 turns to 5 good ones within minutes and then 1 to get under contact with you to put an offer in. 

Head over to bank rate or and take a look at the mortgage calculators, plug in the numbers and get an idea of what the property needs to generate to satisfy the intended debt.You still have to underwrite the deal for the non-finance expenses as well(typically 40-50% of the gross rents). 

@Anthony MillerYour property management experience is a major advantage as you start investing, giving you a head start with tenant screening, lease agreements, and maintenance coordination.