If you can find a house or duplex where rental income covers a significant portion of the mortgage, it could help you build equity while minimizing your living expenses.I'd recommend looking into first-time homebuyer programs in your area, and as always, make sure the numbers work for you.

Focus on turning it around and getting it rented as quickly as possible to minimize losses.2.

My personal goals focus on appreciation, so I'm okay with making minimal positive cash flow in an area that is appreciating quickly, even if rent rates are increasing at a slower pace.

Understanding their exit strategy—how they plan to pay back the loan—is crucial for minimizing risk.Don’t overlook the property itself.

Being upfront with clients and highlighting your strengths—like your market knowledge and dedication—can help minimize the impact of transportation issues.If you're concerned about the costs, maybe focus on building a client base close to home, where transportation won't be as big of an issue.

Minimal risk and upfront cost (liability withstanding).

When you know the buying process, the neighborhood, and how to find the property on your own, and are ready to buy another property: How can you avoid the 2-3% buyer commission portion going to an agent on an MLS list...

These things though are minimal.

As for myself, I have been an agent for 8 years and have been dealing with tenants and tenant screening ever since I started so for me it's something I'm good at, have systems in place to minimize the time it takes from my day, and is something I couldn't imagine paying someone else to do for me at this stage of my investing "career".

That 50/50 split for the GP sounds high for me with no skin in the game or minimal skin.