Today is very different as it is all about the management (and not appreciation) compared to past where management could suck but you still had superior apprecation.This will not crash housing of course but all those "creative" deals where people are paying more than market value are going to realize they have no exit. 

In terms of maximizing your returns you want to compare the interest to an alternative.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

I would go off of comparable cap rates when dictating the sales price.

If I threw the money into SPY, it would be a 104% gain compared to walking away with an 80% gain after fees/commissions.

It took more time and back and forth communication than was needed, and compared poorly with other refinancings we have gone through.

What are your thoughts on its potential to deliver financial freedom quickly compared to traditional real estate investments?

Look at the age compared to there useful life and cost to replace.

Compared to how to do bizz out here in the West were if they are wholesale deals and I dont need title insurance I just do my own deeds and record them..

This often means a smaller down payment and lower monthly payments compared to a traditional bank loan, especially since the seller may not be tied to the high interest rates banks are offering.Another option is a land loan from a local credit union or bank.