A realtor crafting an offer that will be attractive to the seller will always put a rate higher than prevailing current market norms.

It is boring, tedious and in no way glamorous but it will produce results with a consistent framework. 

Does anyone have any suggestions on specific areas that are affordable and will produce significant returns?

Investing out of state will allow you to select the best producing markets now and in the near future.

They even seek out run-down properties and do a makeover to increase the value, most often in attractive neighborhoods for flipping or wholesaling.

Potentially I could attract a long-term tenant by keeping it in place.Anybody have experience managing a house with a handicap ramp?

I am a 25 year old Senior Process Engineer working full time in the optical industry overseeing manufacturing operations for producing perception glasses and part time BiggerPockets fanatic/ Investor. 

I've yet to find a group that consistently attracts that many active investors from an array of different strategies.  

So from a financial standpoint, if you can continue paying the minimum and putting any additional into income producing investments that can return a rate higher than your interest rate, you will net ahead.  

Federal loan interest rates currently sit at 3.73%, roughly the same rate as a 30-year mortgage, but is 0% until May 2022.Some factors I've considered that make this taking this $4,000 attractive:- I may be able to obtain lower interest rates with a larger down payment, offsetting student debt interest- Avoiding PMI by making a down payment over 20%- Booming housing market in my city with consistently increasing equity- Living several years in the home leaving time to grow equity, potentially making much more than I owe in student debt While all this may be legal, my biggest question is this - does this sound like a smart investment strategy?