First step is to hire a designer. 

Now you have enough to pique your interest further, but it still gives me the hee-bee-jeebies.Next step is to ask to see the offering documents regarding the syndication.

The first step is talking to a lender and getting pre-qualified.

It seems like a simple thing, but reaching out in BiggerPockets about getting started as a real estate investor is a great first step.

In this later scenario, you need all cash, just the same as if you were doing this old school style at the courthouse steps. 

I was told initially that commercial deals(5 plus units) were based more off income property is producing than personal credit/finances but that's not entirely true.

.- If you hold a rental until death, you can pass it on with a stepped-up cost basis, limiting captial gains if then sold (limited by inheritance tax limitations).Too many newbies on this site trying to replace their day job income via "passive" real estate investing w/o digging deep enough to understand how it really works.

Since it is easy to feel overwhelmed a coaching program provides a clear, step-by-step framework that helps you focus on what matters most.

Initially, we wanted to  have the loan under my wife's name only but my the loan officer from the builder's lending arm told us that if I am in the buyer, the RE Agent and the mortgagor (in the loan), I could use my agent commission towards closing costs and down payment.

Once you get past the initial learning curve and have some basic knowledge, it gets a lot easier though and at that point most knowledge gaps can be filled as they come up.