If I could do it again, I'd probably have gotten my license back in college and sharpened my teeth on regular retail single family homes or even leasing with KW (generally considered the easiest and lowest stakes real estate sales), and then gone to my current brokerage after graduating.

You can get cheapy fixer uppers for 50-100k, but those are only SFRs in dinky little markets I know have just about zero demand (I'm talking towns of 100-200 people most Montanans have never even heard of, with no geographical assets whatsoever).

We are excited to cut our teeth on our first investment and we feel confident that we have the right Agent to get us there :-D Happy Hunting!

I have seen plans that allow NO BORROWING for any reason whatsoever.

Get one with teeth versus flat. 

Back then raising money for real estate was like pulling teeth. 

I do not want to miss out on this deal and would love to have more than 1 option for purchase...our first 2 REI's were with this same lender, and it was honestly like pulling teeth each day...literally did not know if we were approved until the day before closing each time, after having to reschedule because they asked for some other document. 

I cut my teeth in real estate in Beaumont.

When you have one party clearly in default who despite multiple notices fails to respond and/or to protect his/her position whatsoever... what's the point in forcing litigation over a couple grand?

Even experienced investors are better served to lean on others' experience and knowledge so name shame there whatsoever in leaning on others.Best thing you can do is really drill into your goals, both short term and long term, and identify a vehicle to get you there.