Its amazing people were getting so much money for homes back then with no skin in the game. 

Great summary of the necessary groundwork needed to get in the game.

But your home where you raise your children is a different ball game.

If so, and you are in second position, if the buyer defaults on the primary mortgage and the lender forecloses, your second position will be wiped out and you will be left with nothing.The fact that the buyer has no actual skin in this game at all, because you are financing the downpayment, seems risky to me.  

If your long game is to hold, then generally speaking, I feel like a good tenant is worth more than a half to full month's rent. 

Hi @Zack Wengert...welcome to the investing game & Bigger Pockets!

PPC is a whole different game though and I've heard you have to jump all in and commit to make it work.

Way to use all the resources at your disposal to get into the REI game!   

Real estate pricing has of course gone up everywhere in the last few years of course as interest rates stay low, the economy is strong, and investors join the game. 

Real estate sales in my opinion is a numbers game, the more people you touch, the higher your chances at landing a few deals.