Kind of the ideal motivated seller that I've been in search of. 

@Jacob AbuataYou could also try marketing to apartment owners that could be motivated to sell (i.e. people that have owned the property for 30+ years, owners who have inherited the property, etc).

I'm not saying that I don't appreciate some of the motivational content but at this point I'm already sold on RE investing and just want as much substance as possible.So, in a nutshell, for me and anyone else who stumbles across this post in the future: Knowing what you know now, what book would you start with and then what would be your next 2-3 steps after that?

And you're absolutely right rental on schedule E is so much easier to use to demonstrate intent.Your biggest challenge is the fact that putting your parents in there is very easy to interpret motives not investment making it personal property and not investment property. 

Thanks BP community:Earlier this year I found a 7 unit converted house, submetered gas and water, fully rented, stable market just received marijuana plant with 130 jobs, and have a 72-year-old motivated seller who is unloading some of his properties as his children don't want them.

Doing it this way may not be monetarily the best way to do it but it works better because you get a psychological reward of paying something off and it will then give you motivation to pay off the next. 

Seller is flexible and motivated.

I spoke to the owner of an abandoned house and she is very motivated to sell.I am prepared to make her an offer however she informed me if an 150K tax lien from the IRS. 

I am wondering if I need to lower my asking price even more, but I don't believe he is super motivated and will accept a low ball offer.All the homes were built around 1950 and range from 850-1100 Sqft.

I would talk to a financial advisor, particularly one who is not motivated to just sell to your mom.An idea I heard on one of the earlier episodes of the podcast is investing in high quality, discounted notes.