For example, if I can get 3x more than my mortgage in rent (at fair market value), then I also have more cushion to lower rents and absorb vacancies during downturns, thus ensuring I can keep my properties and long term gains.Curious, the locations you mentioned ...did others share any numbers to support?   

Get ready to absorb the knowledge that is available here and best wishes on your journey. :) Nice to have you here.

Some even offer an associate degree in real estate.If it was me, I will get on YOUTUBE google PA realtor license see if you can absorb the materials for free.

Aren't you the one absorbing the holding costs? 

I'm definitely trying to absorb as much as I possibly can in order to take the right action as soon as possible.

What I would like to do is find a list of people who are late on mortgage payments and plan on foreclosing their house or selling to make the payment and contact them and offer a 'subject-to' option to basically absorb their debt and rent out the place until a possible refinance in the future to buy more places.

As an avid reader and absorber of this site I've found myself drawn to certain folks who seem to have ideals/thoughts that very much align with mine. 

So I think it really depends on the performance of your portfolio, you might be able to absorb a “little shock” to your cash flow with the trade off of picking up another door.

This applies to things as small as a 3-unit mixed-use building with a store-front or a 5-unit residential.That said, I wouldn't dream of syndicating anything under about $3M dollars because the overhead is just too high to absorb.

When you have numbers and a long term outlook, it helps absorb the occasional short term loss.