However; in order to scale up, we have to reorganize. 

Hi,Currently my partner and I have over 30 properties in the Southwest suburbs of Chicago and believe we have the scale to bring the property management function "in-house." 

I'd like to start with apartment investing due to its economy of scale.

I have been finding extreme sides of the scale of super nice worth investing parks that are way out of price range to the all ages with riffraff.  

Welcome to the site Erjon.Glad my grading scale was of assistance to you.If you wanna use US residential funding the lenders will want you to buy the property in your personal names as opposed to an LLC.With financing your 25k should get you into 1 possibly 2 properties.Shoot me a PM if You ever  wanna set up a visit to Cleveland, see the neighborhoods etc.Good luck to you guys.

Been through it all before on a much larger scale. 90% plus this never works out.

Ideally, I would like to get into owning a small retail strip center (3-5 Tentants) at first and build/scale from there.

That's the biggest issue I've noticed with builders that are more national in scale. 

I would look to purchase some typeof multifamily   property that will allow you to achieve some type of economy of scale as well as spreading risk.  

Unless you consider yourself a 9 or 10 on the dyi talent scale I'd stay away from a below grade ductless and opt for retrofitting with cadet heaters with a thermostat  and educating tenants on keeping them set at medium/low during the winter.