I know there's different means on getting the capital to start but so far from my experience it's close to winning a scratch off ticket unless you know someone personally that has money to invest (i wish).

Long enough to account for the regular (even if infrequent) replacement of the roof, furnace and other big and small ticket items (including tenants).The main point is: will it still cash flow positively once you DO borrow up to 75% of its value, so that you can use your own cash over and over again?

Bigger Pockets is your golden ticket to great success.

Do they do pretty much take care of everything excluding replacing broken big ticket items like furniture? 

To bring it full circle, if you want that higher leverage and are open to a bridge loan to avoid locking into a 5-4-3-2-1 or 3-2-1 prepayment penalty, it might just be your ticket as well thinking long-term. 

I just bought my ticket to go there on Saturday for a few days to see exactly what I'll be dealing with. 

Not ever seller will value this, but when they think about it some might...and for some it will be a big relief.When I was thinking of buying in Bay area 20 years ago and there might be 70 offers on a property, people got real creative with what they did to woo sellers...flowers, wine, airline tickets, vacation stays, etc. 

I think the main way buyers are able to actually buy a home in the Phoenix market is if they are lucky ... lucky they have an inside connection, lucky to have a good Realtor, lucky to be at the right place at the right time, lucky their offer was accepted, lucky the new home builder picked their "golden ticket," ... just plain lucky. 

If you spend money on big ticket items like roof, windows and siding it's hard to achieve 25% equity.

With promises that I could write my own ticket upon graduation (and a naive 18 year old mind) I completed my degree in 2007.