As the thread has proven, there is way more than one way to skin a cat.I like your creativeness, and that can work with certain sellers, but if you have ever dealt with REO than you know they would laugh at that, of just flat out tell you they won't be responding for 2-3 days. 

Spend your time now focused on maximizing your income, minimizing your expenses, saving the difference, and educating yourself to recognize value in your investment marketplace - the fundamentals. 

Welcome @Robert Jarboe, you are wise to recognize the difficulty of doing it solo.

Soon you'll start to recognize people from previous meetings, and you'll be reconnecting with old friends. 

With its proven record as a rental, why waste more time having it sit on the market looking for a home buyer. 

If someone gains access to your tenants property and it can be proven they used an old key, that would put serious liability on a landlord. 

I think crowdfunding just sounds sexier and people want the hot thing for the moment but Reits are proven companies with proven management.

In that case, I'd say you did what you could, but when dealing with people like them you are sort of at their mercy unless you are willing to spend thousands to be proven right in court.

Those lucky few who recognize this will be on the wave and the rest will be left behind.  

Or, you can recognize that the rest of your life starts with this decision and make a mature and sound decision that will set you far ahead of your peers regardless of how it turns out.A college does not make the experience.