Seems to me that for a time, everyone was able to make easy $$ from value-add, but many were not prepared for changing market conditions.

Focus on properties that align with your financial independence goals and be prepared for market fluctuations.Your strategy of balancing cash flow with capital appreciation while aiming for financial independence is sound.

Then if you want to take one down yourself, you'll be much better prepared.  

When you go to refinance, no lender is going to offer much better than 65-75% LTV, which means under the best scenario you'll be $27,500 short in repaying your lenders.Are you financially prepared to make up the difference?

Create a network, prepare for the future, and conduct extensive due diligence on properties.

I’ve been through a few storms myself, and one thing I’ve learned is that preparation and quick action make a huge difference:Document Everything...

Another way to approach this is to prepare a written early termination agreement to be signed by the tenant, wherein the tenant agree to vacate by a date certain and to comply other terms (e.g. paying early termination fee or an agreed upon amount if there is no early termination fee provided for in the lease).

However, I’m still mindful that this is our first deal, and I want to be prepared for potential surprises.Here’s what we plan to check during the walk-through:- Overall condition of the HVAC system (I’ll test it myself with HVAC multimeter)- Electrical issues (I'll assess as well)- Plumbing, which my brother, a journeyman plumber, can help with if needed- Any significant structural concerns, mold, foundation issues, etc.

You will need to schedule annual meetings, prepare minutes and maintain good records.

Unfortunately most investors focus their time and resources on preparing for the liability event rather than proactively operating their businesses in a manner that prevents the liability event from occurring.