Another hang up is that I will likely buy it sight unseen. 

My goals are to start out with a fourplex that has all units rented out,and hopefully make enough money off all four to pay the little rent my wife and I pay. and put all of the rest towards slowly fixing up the property if needed and paying down the principle of whatever type of morgage we get. and from there I would save whatever I could and in a few years move on to another proper and hopefully retire off of them one day.My wife and I can handle where we live the next couple of years but eventually would want to move into a rental if we own it or hopefully a house depending on how we are doing financially. 

I agree that finding a good contractor is tough to do these days which speaks to the basic principle of supply and demand.

I 'm a new member to bigger pockets and look forward to the many helpful principles and guidance it affords.

While I use the Internet on my phone everyday every single day to access the sight, I know a nice app would up the foot traffic though here by me and a lot of others members. 

It does not include your principle and interest.  

You have more cash to reinvest in other deals so you could potentially match your cash.Easy numbers to illustrate pointHouse cost - 100k produces -$ 200 or $1000 and 20k down So your friends put 100k down he makes more than you $200 versus $1000On the other hand you only put 20k down, you have the same 100k you buy 5 houses So now you have5 houses $500k value 100k down 1k cash "plus" you have principle paid down ! 

Realty shares is another sight that does equity investments from 1-7 years.

Under the "you can't get blood out of a turnip" principle it is highly unlikely that the Deed of Trust issue will be resolved to anyone's satisfaction.Question: In the worste case scenario that HUD chooses to renig on our contract, would i have any options such as right of first refusal should they choose to sell the house at a later date?

You should do an amortization with making extra principle payments.Also maybe not taking cash out will be the best option.