If you live not to far from a low-income area, I would suggest buying one or two cheaper homes outright.

Then when things started to turn around, A/B market values were generally quicker to rebound, you were able to take advantage of increased rents, lower property values, cheaper money, etc.  

I'd rather not borrow a large sum of money from my parents on a first deal, but at the same time I recognize that money from them would be cheaper than money from just about anywhere else.So ideally, I'd like to use a portfolio lender for the bulk of the loan, and my father for a much smaller chunk.

I am assuming that is something that is greatly looked over and putting cheaper windows in a home isn't going to affect you negatively?

However maybe i could sell it and get a cheaper one and use the difference for the down-payment.

Building PRICE increases may be a result of inflation, which makes the dollars cheaper.

I do attend classes a couple of times a year - my rule of thumb is that the cheaper the course (0-$99) the more they are a pitch for something else; and you will only scratch the surface of the topic (teaser).

I got an RS Means cost book which has a good bit of info and was much cheaper than Marshall Swift.

Cheaper than a college education and I will be financially set in a few years because of the education and the group Scott Carson has provided.  

The tenant agreed to pay $10/mo for me to arrange for pest control, since it would be cheaper that way.