Don't sweat any deal.

Can do this mostly yourself for sweat equity, I really strongly recommend doing at least one hands-on so you get a feel for the timelines and costs.

The most effective way to do this would be a basement unit, as they tend to cost much less than backyard cottages ($50,000 - $150,000 is a good estimate for a basement unit build, or way less if you throw in sweat equity or cut corners, while a 700+ sq ft backyard cottage will usually cost you $200,000+)Right now I like Kent/Des Moines (because of the upcoming lightrail stop), Renton & Everett (low prices, good multifamily opportunity), Tacoma (wonderful place to live, few good jobs, but may be revitalized further by upcoming light rail stops and more companies switching to Work From Home), and the Beacon Hill and Hillman City neighborhoods of Seattle. 

Part of that, I am convinced, is that they need to know their landlord is not too good to sweat and stink under their sink when they're in trouble.

Welcome to the university of real estate investing, I say.I am putting in a lot of my own sweat equity and that, alongside with business meetings with the wife, networking with other investors and all the communications with my real estate agent, insurance agent, lenders, contractor and subcontractors, are accumulating to the point where I can likely achieve the 750 hours of real estate work required to designate myself as a "real estate professional" on our next year's tax return.

So don't sweat it. https://www.cbsnews.com/pictur...In terms of weather, Chicago has only gotten more mild.

Making money early on requires sweat equity, no matter your field or system.And land contracts are not the only way to sell land.

Since you have a fulltime career that you love maybe finding a partner willing to put in the sweat equity (acquisition, management, and disposition) and collect a check and repeat the process as more deals come in.

I am shy, nervous and it makes me sweat like crazy to host a meeting every month. 

I also work hard (I work too hard at my job, lol), so Im not a stranger to the grind or sweat equity/getting dirty.I will PM you as well to get your thoughts, thanks again!