You simply have to close your sale before closing your purchase.Your thoughts on only purchasing a couple of properties and then doing a cash out refi is also very smart. 

My favorite quote from that book is"Anyone who dreams of an uncommon life eventually discovers there is no choice but to seek an uncommon approach to living it"  - Gary KellerTo be successful you can't just copy what someone else is doing exactly, and you don't need to come from wealth and connections in order to be successful in real estate investing.  

As an investor, I had a choice to list any way I desired and I never desired to use the MLS to list my units.  

There's no "rules" regarding who has to be on the lease, you can make your own choices but adhering to common practices is probably wise.

Is there a way to have the seller give us first choice (preferably at same price) when he does sell? 

Even if a cat is only in the house for three months, the damage may be done, so we charge the full year of increase to protect against that.That's smart on the Addendum!

It is a choice, not a need. 

Investing in real estate is an excellent idea. However, like with any investment, it's imperative that you know what you're doing and considers various factors when choosing the most suitable property to invest in. Ma...

Investing locally to start is a smart move - you get to keep things close, see it in person, and so on.Start learning, keep learning, and then start connecting and networking with those in you area.  

This is what is in my head and correct me if I am wrong, but I was thinking if I receive the property then give it about 2-3 years refinance the house and pull out equity (obviously by using the calculator that the equity amount will be enough on year 3) and use that to pay back the money that was lent to me.Is that a smart option to present to my private lender?