He plans to flip to build some capital for his eventual buy-and-hold plans. 

I want to get into apartment complexes eventually but am starting small to build up capital.

Plenty of very successful real estate investors buy personal residences to take advantage of all the benefits of owner occupied financing knowing that they are purchasing an eventual investment property. 

I feel like I finally found my calling when I decided that this time I would take the lead and be the investor purchasing properties.My interests include wholesaling, fixing and flipping and then eventually buying and holding a few properties. 

Perhaps you seek out a local developer and see what kind of value you can add to their life and then eventually get in on a deal with him/her.

Plus, it seems some asset based lenders want to rely on conventional lending criteria such as FICO scores, low LTV's (using any definition), and multiple appraisals -- all while enjoying hard money interest rates.None of this is to say that there's a lender for everyone or that if you look hard enough, you'll eventually find someone foolish enough to hand you a bag of cash for your entire project cost.

@John Van Uytven I plan to eventually turn real estate investing into a method of passive income that could replace my current income and allow me to do the things that give me joy (family, volunteering, travelling, et al.).

In the typical lease-option agreement, the tenant pays a monthly rent that is more than the fair market rent of the property, with the excess amount being credited towards the buyers eventual down payment.

In theory both parties will eventually see everything.

I want to get involved in multi families and then eventually rehabs.