The other route would be to tackle a bit of the sourcing and packaging and sell deals till you have sufficient funds to buy.

I have also found that some great "guru" packages can be found on ebay. 

You should definitely put together a marketing package to give to investors and just keep going to REIAs and networking until you find someone.Now, I'm not sure what your situation is but have you looked into a HELOC?  

Generally there is the standard "We can choose not to really give any money at our sole discretion, but based on our limited information we think they are going to be OK" verbiage. 

It's nervousness and excitement all in one package when I think about the possibilities of owning real estate, but that's the thrill that will push me to greater heights I didn't think were achievable.

I've had interest from someone wanting to sell 2 properties next door to each other as a strict package (refuses to split them up in a sale, although they are two completely separate addresses / properties ,etc).  

So I can offer you the "entire" package, if you need those services.

Been doing analysis of the package sales and small apt complex.

okay so I've been in contact with this motivated seller about a property the market value for the property is 57,800 it needs about 15000 in repairs his asking price was 35 he went down to 32 my end buyer only wanted to spend 32 without my assignment fee I asked my seller would h be willing to go to 28.........he has another property for sale that he wants to sale both for a package deal market value 29,700 no much work that needs to be done I don't know what the asking price is for the property individually but my question is what will and expeierenced buyer offer for a minimum and a maximum where we both can be happy p.s.

In an index fund, you're many, many levels away from actively managing those businesses, thus your returns are eaten up by employees you must pay to manage the business, boards of directors, executives, then of course, your brokerage who packages all of those companies together to make your index fund.