Whether I am putting 20% or 0% down, how do I possibly compete with experienced investors paying cash for properties?

@Kelly McLaughlin - competence goes a LONG way, especially in working with investors.

As @Brent Paul suggests, always get the advice of a competent local attorney who specializes in real estate and follow that counsel over any of us on BP... we are sharing our opinions but cannot understand all the issues at play to give specific advice to your situation.

And not sure if you know but you can set your podcast player to play at 1.5x or 2x speed.

More so if you're competing against offers without contingencies. 

I'm wondering if it is better to pick a seasoned pro or someone who is extremely competent but somewhat new to the game (as the newer ones tend to be the hungriest) ???

I'm slowly trying to learn about retail and office, in order to diversify out of multi-family or even transition totally out of it.I don't know him personally, but we have spoken and I always see his excellent posts....but,I imagine, the good brokers, like @Joel Owens , build relationships with other brokers, investors, and businesses that are always looking for space...I bet he also, gets involved locally and meets other members of the local community and are constantly networking and trying to build and strengthen their network, in regards to commercial spaces.The right broker, that is competent and concerned about adding value to a transaction, is worth the percentage they are asking for...usually.

Most importantly you need to convey confidence and assurance you are a player and not just wasting their time.

I know that what you build would be new, and likely nicer, but it would seem difficult to compete with the price someone could charge for a renovated property.

With more “fha approved” competing condo units available, the “premium” for the currently approved condos will shrink of course....but how much of that will be the non approved ones rising in value and how much of that will be the currently approved units units decreasing in price due to now more “approved competition”.