They offered to give me a credit on a future loan.

While I wait for my work history, I want to build credit and save for a down payment.

Class C: These apartments are typically over 30 years old and are in fair to poor condition.

I would say credit monitoring

If your asset is older and/or smaller, you may have better luck with local community banks or credit unions.

I looked into the maintenance option years back to discover a trend of:  apx. 8% monthly fee which only included rent collection (everything else from maintenance to turnovers etc, extra, and poor reputation on repairs.)

Books like “The Millionaire Real Estate Investor” by Gary Keller, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, or “The Book on Rental Property Investing” by Brandon Turner can give you a solid foundation in REI strategies, including wholesaling.Most of the content offered in coaching programs can be found in books, free webinars, forums like BiggerPockets, and YouTube channels.

@Hank Bank BRRRR is probably want you want to do.Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refi, Repeat.Before you go all in and either find out you don't like being a landlord or you make costly mistakes, start with just the next one.You'll have some challenges with tapping the equity in the townhouse:1) What loan amount can you qualify with your credit & income?

Poor communicators, poor housekeeping skills, prescription med abuse, big dogs that they couldn't properly care for, damaging, etc.

Two, you'll have a much easier time obtaining a mortgage product if you have a track record of W2 income.In the meantime, continue implementing the strategies you mentioned: save religiously, build your credit, pay any existing debt owed, etc.