Getting one property and cashflowing it will be a challenge. you can try seller financing but you are still going to be highly levered which just enhances the risk that you are taking on.The best way to grow is to focus on managing your rental, saving money through your W2 and crushing that - if you are a realtor you will make more crushing it as being a realtor than over leveraging real estate - then save for down payment and buy slowly. its not a rush.

You're facing a common investor challenge: learning from experience (and sometimes mistakes).

I think BRRRR would be quite challenging as a first deal in an out of state market, but that is just my opinion.

See the chart from Fair Isaac Company (FICO) below: FICO Score Pct of Population Default Probability 800 or more 13.00% 1.00% 750-799 27.00% 1.00% 700-749 18.00% 4.40% 650-699 15.00% 8.90% 600-649 12.00% 15.80% 550-599 8.00% 22.50% 500-549 5.00% 28.40% Less than 499 2.00% 41.00% Source: Fair Isaac CompanyAccording to this chart, investors should use corresponding vacancy+tenant-nonperformance factors of approximately 5% for Class A rentals, 10% for Class B and 20% for Class C.To address Class C payment challenges, many industry "experts" are now selling programs to newbie investors about how Section 8 tenants are the cure.

Don't discount that.Real estate remains a valuable investment despite current challenges due to its tangible nature, long-term appreciation, and potential for consistent rental income.

Those things can and will hurt your monthly KPIs occasionally and sometimes for long periods. 

What are the biggest challenges people have faced with this.

Sharing your experience can help others facing similar challenges.

This concept aims at addressing the challenges of what to do with defunct suburban malls and maybe even empty big-box retail store spaces that are in desirable and affordable neighborhoods.

Knowing the rent will likely show up each month—even if the tenant has challenges—removes a lot of the uncertainty that can come with rentals.The people listing this apartment as a “Section 8 property” are likely trying to target buyers who value that stability.