Sure looks to me like you made some big sacrifices for long term success... doubled your portfolio... in a year you'll have all your money back out... over $200/door cash flow... once you get your rents up where they should be it will increase as well.... for most on BP, the long game is the driving force. 

I guess it will just be more of a waiting game then, I just couldn't believe people were posting their properties with such misleading numbers and figured I must be doing something wrong!

I view networking and relationships as being the basis for staying in the game long term. 

I’m new to this game, curious if 15k$ is too little capital to begin investing into real estate (any type).

They have more skin in the game then you do.Make sure you get clear title.

that is awesome mate getting into the game this early in life is an adventage on its own mate. to help answer your questions?

., and came up with the Howey rule:  "a contract, transaction or scheme whereby a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits solely from the efforts of the promoter or a third party." 

The way I see it your partner scenario could have an advantage over a property manager because they have more skin in the game. 

JV with them.All HML want some type of skin in the game.

I've recently jumped into the REI game and I've found out that if you don't have a "employee" job or a W2 in order to get a home loan you have to have 2 years of reliable income history.