Goal would be to acquire 20 rentals by the age of retirement, with some already starting to be paid off.I am in the same boat as you, and I focus on safe appreciation all day (small cash flow for safety and then focused on markets on that appreciate). 

It's generally fairly hard to convince someone to lend you a private loan if you have no experience investing.

I manage around 400 rentals with 14 years of experience and have never been sued once.

Scaling up doesn’t always require 20% down—house hacking (FHA or 5% conventional), DSCR loans, seller financing, and the BRRRR method can help you acquire more properties with less cash upfront.

If you can make a better return by using that cash on a different deal & you're in the "growth phase" most investors wouldn't buy it down because they would prioritize acquiring more properties over maximizing cash flow now.

I'm an aspiring investor and looking to acquire my first investment property.

Does anyone have a recommended property management company with which they have had good experiences in this area?

This poses the opportunity to acquire a distressed property today, spend the next 3 years to fully stabilize the property, capitalizing on the coming spike in rent growth, falling vacancy, falling interest rates, and compressing cap rates for multifamily real estate in the D.C. metro, as well as the option to hold the property as a safe and lucrative long term investment given the macro factors coming to Washington D.C. and the fundamentals of the multifamily sector.Cap Rates, Interest Rates, and the Best Sellers to Target to Get Deals DoneMarket Cap Rate, DC Metro, (1/7/2025) Period Market Cap Rate 2030 5.1% 2029 5.1% 2028 5.2% 2027 5.3% 2026 5.4% 2025 EST 5.6% 2025 YTD 5.7% 2024 5.7% 2023 5.6% 2022 4.9% 2021 4.4% 2020 4.8% 2019 5.0% 2018 5.1% 2017 5.1% 2016 5.1% 2015 5.0% 2014 5.1% 2013 5.3% 2012 5.3% 2011 5.3% 2010 5.5% 2009 6.2% 2008 6.2% 2007 5.5% 2006 5.4% 2005 5.6% 2004 6.1% 2003 6.7% 2002 7.3% 2001 7.9% 2000 8.4% Cap RatesIn the next few months, cap rates on the right deals should be rising, making it an opportune time to buy.

The trust would also acquire the new replacement property. 3) If you are renting the property to a related party, please keep in mind that it should be at fair market rental rates.  

Leveraging financing to acquire multiple properties is a smart move for long-term wealth building.