I'm having issues getting property under contract.Agent/seller wants a pre-approval of funds first.I can't get a pre-approval for every property or is that the way it works Thanks

There are still deals (in my markets) on the MLS that have PLENTY of meat on the bone if you are willing to deal w deed issues, tenant issues, structural issues, etc.

I did pay them to do it since they've done the majority of the work so far and are finishing the job up and have done everything at reasonable rates. 

And like Chris notes, if you start getting added to a dozen syndicator lists, all of whom are buying large-scale, Class B, Value-Add Multifamily deals in the suburbs of major metros, and 2-3 are projecting 30% returns, 2-3 projecting 20% return, and the remainder are in the mid-teens, I would really dig hard as to what is going into those 20-30% projections.  

I asked the servicer if I would be able to assume another in the future and I was told this would not be an issue as long as I qualified financially!

@Tomas NunoInvesting in real estate with house hacking is smart, but there are issues to think about since you work outside the US most of the year and stay in California for a short time.

Transaction costs, seasoning, pre-payment penalties, DTI impacts, minimum lending requirements (more than 50-60k), and a long list of other issues make this a bad strategy.Buy 1 and see how it goes.

And the lower returns from lower rents meant I was less able to do major improvements or buy another investment.You decide the maximum monthly dividend return from your investment when you set the rent. 

Specifically, really steep roads  will interfere with your Winter-season rentals and can even be an issue in the Autumn with the rains and leaves.

I'm dealing with one now, example of issue: They want hand rails going down to the basement from the outside cellar doors.