I wouldn't want to miss out on properties that work for my needs and that I don't have to put in more than market rent from my pocket.

Property across the street recently popped up for sale, and so I immediately put in an offer because (1) close proximity to an existing property, and (2) the numbers made sense.

I want to put in an offer on two separate 4-plex buildings that are adjacent to each and owned by the same person, but on separate parcels.Will the appraiser value it on the income approach or the comp-based approach?

I'll be honest I opened my own brokerage and it's almost been more of a distraction for me since the business is not my primary focus (finding deals is my main focus).  

I would open up a whole Life insurance policy- (Only work with people that understand real estate and over funding the account- and no I don't sell it) then use that money you put in there to get financed for investment properties and only put down 20% SF, or 25% small MF.

Each person is going to put in $50,000.

You've got to put in the work and market direct to sellers.

I know a handful of others who owned one rental, couldn't handle the bad tenant(s) they put in there, and sold.

The goal of the CF is to recover your cost as fast as you can, so the smaller the cash you put in, the faster you should recover your cost and start to profit.5 - Now, here's the most important (yes, even more important than the above), don't start looking for properties and then figure out how you are going to pay for it. 

But don't get distracted by the super low sale prices which likely aren't correct anyways.