I've worn three hats in the seller financing world (as a property buyer, as a property seller offering terms, and as an investor that buys seller financed note). 

I picked a mentor and a team to follow and the rest worked out

This seamless transaction capitalized on strategic market insight and a prime opportunity.

Go straight into focusing on creative finance, subject to, and minimal cash down deals and build from there.I want to hear your thoughts on what direction to take here if you were in my shoes given these constraints (full time job and a few thousand saved) and you want to optimize for passive income first, then value appreciation?

8%-11% is pretty standard here and as someone mentioned it really just depends on how the company is run.

And, as I'm sure you know, both investors would require a 3rd party verification of assets to prove their accredited status.Let me know if this is what are asking or not.

I have several opportunities to snag up a self storage complex and a 18 unit apartment complex on creative financing .

Quote from @Isadore Nelson: Give the expectation, a deadline, and a penalty.

I financed this property using down payment funds from 403B and a local commercial bank. 15% down from personal funds. 85% down from community commercial bank. 3yr balloon, 20yr amortization, 7% interest rate.

If you don't already have boots-on-the-ground and a trusted network, it's going to be tougher to do.