I do agree, a local mentor would be ideal, but haven’t had success in finding one.

Newer brokerage policies in our mls have more clearly separated listing and buyer broker fees, so you can likely interview nearby buyer brokers who will provide the service for a set cost or possibly work with you to represent you on an agreed upon sales commission where if seller doesn’t offer to cover it, there’s a minimum you’ve agreed to pay to broker on any purchases that are realized through their service.

Housing Authorities can have different management structures, often varying by country and specific authority.

They get that back 100%, one month free and a great referral to help them on their way, if they agree to sign a lease amendment shortening the term accordingly.

Ruth, I agree with the others.

Unfortunately she wanted an arm and a leg for the downtown commercial property and the country multi family had a driveway that was too steep for me to consider with our winters and was in a bad spot.

I do agree with everything that was said above. 

@Andrew Steffens - See above@John Underwood - see above@Jay Thomas - yes... agree and have thought of future appreciation although the house is so big (5,000 ft2)that it will take me so many repairs bit by bit that I feel like it will get to be time to start Renovating back at the begin again by the time I get to the 'end' of the renovation. haha creative financing is indeed the only option at that point - but then leverage becomes a larger stress point than being mortgage free-ish and just cash flowing 'passively'. also to note is that my town just approved a giant tax bill increase and I already pay 12k a year *insert eye roll emoji* 

If we turn the tables and say it could be a 95% failure ratio. ( doubt it's ever that high but just for conversation sake) In general for the whole country if we count everyone.

I think anyone that is real estate would agree with me that nothing is passive in real estate - it's just a lot of work does not matter what niche you are in but the reward is there.