I'm Mark Elfving from Denver, passionate about real estate investing for about a decade.

The only industry where you, as seller, for decades were expected to pay for the other team's coach. 

They say it'll rain less and be more sunny on average in the decades to come..- Low wildfire risk.

My guess is that the arrangement you contemplate would not meet FHA underwriting guidelines, but I am not a MLO and have not had a conventional or FHA loan in decades.

with maybe the exception of a parcel that is clearly served by city Sewer Water and have power and Tele / internet to the lot lines.. and you have double checked the hook up or Systems development charges and if they have capacity.. keep in mind many parcels in subdivisions that were basically built as recreational subdivisions decades ago.. ( think GLEN GARY GLEN ROSS and for sure watch that Movie is exactly how the industry was in those days) the original infrastructure was allowed to be built to maybe serve 20% of the development that was legal and now you have moratoriums and assessments etc etc..

I have excellent role-models in my own family of first-generation immigrants who have invested in RE decades ago and now enjoy total financial freedom before retirement.

I haven't done a conventional loan for decades, so someone else can chime in.

I've been at this game for decades, and it's usually the same story, just different actors.

So, what do I look for: REAL experience measured in decades, not years.  

Real Estate investing has generally negative cash flow for decades, meaning cash flows mostly from your bank account into investing.