This lowered my cost basis per lot by 7k.

Those agents can be profitable on lower priced properties.  

Appraisal is where if the value of the property didn't meet the value of the loan, you can negotiate the price to lower it.

Factoring market conditions at the time of refinance, I negotiated a lower rate and conceded a lower term anticipating rates to normalize in the 4%-5% range by 2026.

In my experience tenants on the lower end of rent tend to cause more damage than higher price tenants.

Property managers have established vendor relationships and can handle issues quickly.Cons of Hiring a Property Manager❌ Lower Profit Margins – Management fees (typically 8-12% of monthly rent) eat into your cash flow, which can be a dealbreaker if your margins are tight.❌ Less Control Over Tenants & Maintenance – You won’t be as involved in selecting tenants or overseeing repairs, which might lead to decisions you wouldn’t have made yourself.❌ Not All Property Managers Are Great – A bad property manager can neglect your property, overcharge for repairs, or poorly handle tenant relations, leading to unnecessary headaches.Which Option Is Right for You?

Lower risk of wrong product.    9.

In Texas, the state I mostly work, despire me being in California, sellers in the "B" usually are okay with lower EMD/option amounts, i.e. $200. 

Are there any options with lower down payments?

You will hear about west side vs east side, while what is told is true, what is not mentioned is lower class areas are block by block.