You can find a local investor to mentor you in exchange for sweat equity which will give you the best kind of learning, hands-on learning!

Bring in a private lender or equity partner who puts up all the cash, then have a plan to cash them out after a year or two -- maybe by fixing up and renting out, then refinancing.If you are only risking time and sweat equity, then there's no reasonable objection to a great deal.

Buy tougher houses,be specific in your lease vet your tenants well and you won't have to sweat the small stuff.

Joint venture :) Bring the deal, bring sweat equity, someone else brings the funds.

Borrowers are not allowed to complete any of the work themselves as sweat equity.Loan to Value Calculations:The original principal amount of the mortgage may not exceed Fannie Mae’s maximum allowable mortgage amount for a conventional first mortgage.

I would love some feedback from those who have structured cash/sweat equity deals.

In summary, don't sweat the fees.

Issuing leases, collecting rents, maintaining a property, etc.Bonus if you can find roomies to help you fix it up with your savings and some sweat equity.

No other where can I get into the market for 0 down (VA loan), and have the dividends pay off the what I owe with just sweat equity (my management)

No sweat Ryan,Yeah, we probably are working the same numbers.