Or a personal loan if interest rates aren't cost prohibitive?

Conventional would allow you to add a fence or do yard work in your bid.I cannot lend to you personally in MA but happy to answer any general questions about the 203k or other Renovation loan programs!

The idea of debt-free is that if a person is going to retire and has to completely depend on the income, they don't want a severe recession surprising them and causing them to default on the debt and losing the properties.In a normal world, I would do that as well.

There is a large population of low income persons who are poorly integrated and somewhat centralized.

Caution:  Personal credit card financing is a huge risk and good luck finding 0 percent interest today.

I personally think it is best to work with local professionals with a good track record. 

Personal criteria, building criteria and area criteria will all affect the way a deal appears on paper. two 100 unit apartment complexes, one in an A area and one in a C+ area will have very different financial breakdowns and interest groups.Want to know if a deal is good (for you)?

Buy it personally, and rent it full time to my C-corp?

Is your goal to use being an agent for your own personal investments or actively try and grow your agent business to eventually leave your W2?

The question is mostly a personal financial planning question and it depends on your preference and what balance of risk and access you'd like and would be comfortable with.