From a single family buying perspective, my only experience has been buying a new home 6 months ago, selling our current home, and talking with people I know.

You can sign up for these on a great website called Meetup.Financial Preparation:Evaluate Your Finances: Understand your current financial situation, including savings, credit score, and any potential sources of funding.Create a Budget: Establish a budget for your first investment.

Here are some considerations for commercial real estate:Higher Income Potential: Commercial properties often generate higher rental income compared to residential properties, especially in prime locations.Longer Leases: Commercial leases tend to be longer (5-10 years or more), providing more stable cash flow and less frequent turnover.Tenant Diversity: Depending on the property type, you can diversify your tenant base, spreading risk across multiple businesses or corporations.Market Dynamics: Commercial real estate can be more sensitive to economic cycles and local market conditions, requiring a deeper understanding of business trends and tenant industries.Purchasing: Generally, commercial real estate will require 20% down.Choosing Between the Two:When deciding between commercial and residential real estate, consider these factors:Investment Goals: Are you looking for steady rental income, long-term appreciation, or both?

Currently Stelnick Law is working on my case and it's going really well. :) 

You can expect 4%-6% equity appreciation gain, especially with current rate and inflation.  

I’m having a hard time deciding if I should move forward with the deal or keep renting (currently paying $2200/mo in an apartment, we would have to pay $4k to terminate lease early).

We also buy notes (and currently have a tape of 8 for sale).

Currently they have average finishings for the area.I have an idea on the rents but would like to hear what other people are currently renting their units for.

The primary hurdle for investors is that most homes have appreciated significantly during the past 3- years and the difference in the current mortgage balance and purchase price is required as a cash down payment.

Moreover, given current market conditions and rates, understand that most markets only offer cash flow if you implement a creative strategy.