Compared to an IRA, Solo 401k contribution limits are roughly ten times higher.The Solo 401k will allow you to take participant loans while the IRA does notThere is no custodial requirement for the 401k.You don't need the additional expense and administration of an LLC to have checkbook control.There is a built in-Roth component whereas IRAs are either traditional or Roth, not both.A spouse can also participate in the same Solo 401k plan.

And yet every day, I see "investors" from California and international investors are trying to scoop up "cheap" properties all over the midwest without realizing they're buying in dead areas or war zones.

We reviewed the international Property Maintenance Code (https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IPMC2018/chapter-4-light-ventilation-and-occupancy-limitations).

@Kelly DeWinter I think a key component of the marketing plan is demonstrating value.

@Daniel Livermore find a few local flippers who have great reputations, intro yourself and see if they can mentor you, you can intern or you can invest, so you can shadow them and learn the process from a great source. 

Hey Zach,Also to chime in again on #3 - The type of analysis that you would be looking for that takes everything into account as a whole is Internal Rate of Return (IRR) - Here's a link to a pretty easy read on how it is used in RE Investing. https://www.crowdstreet.com/what-internal-rate-return-irr/

Regarding the 3 options of within Massachusetts, intra-state and internationally.

You may want to even intern for a seasoned professional. 

Single and small multi both have their merits- i prefer small multi :)Also, here's a section of a post I just made on another thread about a more detailed method of cap-ex calculation:Truly, the best method for the over analytical, is to segregate the cost of replacement vs. remaining lifespan of each component of the property & find out how much need be budgeted yearly until replacement of that component comes due.

I have marketed property internationally over many years and the laws around receiving fees are related to the geography.