However, now seeing yours as well as other responses here and elsewhere, I have to agree on starting with house hacking, getting that hands on experience myself first before going into something much bigger that has more potential complications. 

On average, 20% to 40% of those components fall into tax categories that can be written off much quicker than the building structure.A Cost Segregation study dissects the construction cost or purchase price of the property that would otherwise be depreciated over 27.5 or 39 years.

If you mean they want to sell but want too much because of sentimental value, maybe leave them a LOI with an expiration date and let them think it over.

Bought a house with an FHA loan, if I bought down the interest rate, do I need to wait longer for rates to drop and refinance than others that did not buy down the rate? 

Hi Shane,It would depend on how much you can finance from the private investor.

Right now, I’m focused on learning as much as I can and taking steps towards getting my first rental property.

It doesn't necessarily need to be listed on the MLS immediately if an agent can bring you an offer on it prior to then that works for you.

I’m a very busy person with a lot of businesses and tasks that need to be done.

That said, there needs to be a filtering of rent by the room and midterm rentals because I think they are often conflated and the rental pricing data is very different for the two sources.

Purchase price: $125,000 Cash invested: $38,000 Our Mission: Provide Better Homes for our Veterans and those most in need, while providing high return for our investors.$38k Investment I 12% Annual Priority Return I 25.7% IRR I 2.9x Multiple I Hold Time 5-7 years