You can probably live for less than you would be paying in rent, so not a bad deal but just know it is a subsidy not a full ride.If you want to get into other stuff $12K could be great seed money to get marketing going for wholesaling.

But the last couple of years dozens if not hundreds of groups of investors have planted their seed.

Depending on your personal marginal tax brackets, your sources of seed capital and your near term objectives it may make more sense to start by acquiring properties in your own name and roll them into a holding company at a later time.Rental income is considered passive income, as such, a real estate company does not qualify for the reduced CCPC tax rate for small business, but is taxed at the highest corporate rate.  

I planned on selling what was previously my residence, and investing in 4 rentals and begin flipping a few properties to increase seed money.

If you use the above scenario - pretend you're paying the whole mortgage and that any money you earn from your tenant becomes seed money for the next house.

I loaded up to the absolute max and selling eventually got me the seed capital to make big deals.

While you are learning, start to save so you have seed money to invest.

I forgot to add:Congrats on all your previous hard work to put you in the "predicament" that you're in....Most people have only a little, and are trying to raise "seed" money--- you have plenty, and are looking at how to make your profits/equity work harder for you...Certainly a nice problem to have. 

I was offered a chance to join his team, not seed capital down, to work on some of the property management and relationship in exchange for a 20% equity stake.

Thought it might make things easier for my seed capital if I'm purchasing a property from a short sale based on what I've read but could use some help from the pros!