Having a trusted person or family member generally sounds good for starters buy because of that relationship you might get into the issue of late payments.

If you can't keep control of your personal finances, you are highly unlikely to succeed in real estate investing.

@Lien Vuong Quincy is my personal favorite due to asian food and community but as you mention slightly far from the city for STR but if I get a walking distance from the T, that would be doable. 

The philly properties did lose value but not by much - at most 10-15% at the peak of the GFC - small multi family did especially well during rough times in solid neighborhoods. 

Providing personal access is defined as a ministerial act.

For example, I know many people who have bought a house in Ewing for $200k and it's renting for $4000+ a month and this person has put maybe $50k into it over a couple years including a new roof, updated cosmetics, and was able to BRRR out all the money.

Thanks Hey Patrick, Having a business bank account allows for clear separation of business and personal expenses.

FHA and VA are government agencies and will have access to all of the applicants personal and financial information.

Personally, I would just knock on door.  

every person who builds a house or a commercial building has to do so with 25% equity to get it financed with a bank. there is absolutely value in new construction. the hard part becomes making sure your architect knows how to design a building that can make money. but saying you don't know how to is a little silly it's the same idea as existing but ground up you just study the market and look at land more than you do anything else. you can build a house anywhere but you want to do it in better areas. it's either than or higher density's smaller floorplans, etc