Right now, the best offers around me are for some 1.3-4 million, that only generated around 100k per year gross, so there would be a high chance of not cash flowing, and paying money, especially with a commercial loan (these buildings have more than 4 units).I was thinking that although the rental itself does not generate money, I would be able to deduct the mortgage interest, and depreciation from my personal w2 income and would be net positive.

In those days it was possible to locate and tie up a “killer” deal, and close the transaction with absolutely zero of the investors own money.

Slowly and surely, you will make a lot money.

I left them recently like many others have in the last 5 months and even though our money was technically an investment and a limited partner contribution, they refused to give anyone their money back even after stating numerous times they would give people their money back if they choose to leave. 

What if you need to inject more money? 

We owe $154k on the property and the interest rate is 4.25%, the monthly mortgage is $1050 with taxes and insurance.

The numbers may look good on paper, but the reality is very different-lower quality tenants, higher turnover, more problems and less money than you'd expect as a result.

But I didn’t need to worry–they had a lot of money!

Typically to grow a real estate business and raise money you are better off partnering with someone.

If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.