I had the same desire as well, you can can read my story at this thread: I quit my CPA Job to Buy Large Apartments.You stated above of your goal:I too want to buy a multi-family / apartment complex in the USA.Now really rip this goal apart:WHY do you want to buy MFHow many unitsWhat type of deal -momentum, value-add, repositioningHow much money do you NEED to make buying MFHow much do you WANT to make buying MFWhere are the properties located - own backyard/different stateDo you have time to be involved in this businessWho will manageHow will you find the dealsDo you have the funds to closeWill you do a syndicationWho is on your team - brokers, cpa, attorney, contractorI can keep going...The purpose of this exercise is to get you very clear on your specific outcome.

This is not the easiest deal to structure and explain for most investors, for others it is even more difficult to understand.The reason that I went through this exercise for you is to make this point;   You need to start with a more experienced investor and work your way into REI.  

.- Have a payment go through a servicing company, that sends the money directly to the bank and the insurance and the taxes -  Open up an escrow account for the sale, which spells out escrow instructions when the exercise date is and what happens if the buyer defaults- have a "memorandum of agreement" recorded against the title of the property to let the world know that there is some kind of an agreement signed about this property,  recorded against the title of the property to let the world know that there is some kind of an agreement signed about this property, this should prevent any refinancing or sale of the property This should prevent any refinancing or sale of the property - in the case of elderly people being the seller, or if the seller seems like they're incompetent in someway ,  in the case of elderly people being the seller, or if the seller seems like they're incompetent in someway,  see an elder care attorney about making sure that there is a competent parties signing agreements @Bill Gulley may want to add@Steve Vaughan also.

I'd have a lot more time in my day if I didn't devote so much time to exercise, but I am determined to not need or have any more surgeries, hopefully ever.It intrigues me how you were raised with investing parents and followed in their footsteps.  

There are a multitude of problems that you will encounter that render the whole exercise far more trouble than it is worth. 

Maybe get an option on a piece of land and work with a developer who will exercise your option and share in parking profits.Best of luck!

I'm more versed in California than in other states but, in California, the following would be considered acts of a foreclosure consultant (Number 3 is where all of those "Subject to" gurus get nailed):(a) “Foreclosure consultant” means any person who makes any solicitation, representation, or offer to any owner to perform for compensation or who, for compensation, performs any service which the person in any manner represents will in any manner do any of the following:(1) Stop or postpone the foreclosure sale. (2) Obtain any forbearance from any beneficiary or mortgagee.(3) Assist the owner to exercise the right of reinstatement provided in Section 2924c.(4) Obtain any extension of the period within which the owner may reinstate his or her obligation.(5) Obtain any waiver of an acceleration clause contained in any promissory note or contract secured by a deed of trust or mortgage on a residence in foreclosure or contained that deed of trust or mortgage.(6) Assist the owner to obtain a loan or advance of funds.(7) Avoid or ameliorate the impairment of the owner’s credit resulting from the recording of a notice of default or the conduct of a foreclosure sale.(8) Save the owner’s residence from foreclosure.(9) Assist the owner in obtaining from the beneficiary, mortgagee, trustee under a power of sale, or counsel for the beneficiary, mortgagee, or trustee, the remaining proceeds from the foreclosure sale of the owner’s residence.

He exercises common sense: he wants assurances of being paid and some recourse if his payments stop coming.What you're offering him is some flimsy LLC that he would have to go after if he is not paid.

You may want to exercise that right in this case, as the property obviously has significant issues going beyond what the seller will be able to fix within a reasonable timeframe.

My reason for asking, though, was to simply make sure you go through the thought exercise.