Hey Ethan, of course we are going to be biased here but some of the pros and cons:Pro: In a cut in dry answer, credit unions can offer lower rates some of the time. 

But I would be interested in at least swapping stories of what we are trying to do and see if there is a fit.

We will be looking for an sfr or duplex to buy and hold as a long term rental just to get in on the wave of the rising economy , while it is still affordable.

It encourages this behavior, increases the odds they will repeat the behavior, increases the odds that another LL will get to experience thus from this tenant, and in the long term increases the chance it will happen to you again. 

I predicted a 20 to 30 percent correction in prices this year, and I was dead wrong.It appears that investors are continuing to come in for the long haul, with the knowledge that positive cash flow isn't realistic in the early years of ownership.

Holding long-term Lessons learned?

there are many long and detailed threads on this company. 

"Long Distance Real Estate Investing" by David Greene is a good options and will help with getting an idea of good markets all over the place, not just your own backyard. 

However, it takes a long time to pay off this property and forces me to accumulate much more interest over time.

Recently I've seen a massive increase of homeowners rolling up their sleeves and taking on DIY projects either on their primary homes or on their rental properties.