Some of those cities have a nice mix and the rental side can feed off the flip side due to area rejuvenation and the benefits that come with being on the fringe of those areas. 

Will likely have mixed sources for down payment and initial investment (family assistance and bank loans).Looking for suggestions and resources on where to start on analyzing neighborhood early trends/growth predictions, best mortgage options to consider, and general tips/tales of experience as first time home buyers and rental property managers/investors. 

It's done exactly what I thought it would and helping my brain listen to other thoughts and knowledge, and mix it with what I have.

-while you're in college you need to network, network, network and with the right people. if you want to have success in life then you need to surround yourself with likeminded people. network with people who want to achieve something in their lives, collaborate on projects with people. going out and binge drinking with the losers isn't networking. i have people i know that think they are networking by going out to the club every weekend, except all the people they meet are losers who aren't going anywhere.

I would tweak the steps by putting maxing an HSA before post-match 401(k) contributions, mixing in non-retirement (ie brokerage, rental properties, etc) investing before maxing 401(k), and I absolutely would NOT accelerate paying down low, fixed interest rate mortgages.  

- Late last night, he was out drinking for the raptors game, NBA game.

@Sheila Campbell In addition to all of the other great advice already given, look at the tenant mix. 

How best can I evaluate the price on this mixed use building?

My name is Nieko, I am a brand new Bigger Pockets site member after being a long time surveyor of the youtube channel and listener of the podcasts, and have now decided to jump into the mix of things, I just wanted to start a discussion on peoples first real estate Acquisitions, see how they were feeling during the process, did you do a super detective method of knowing every little itsy-bitsy detail before you bought in?

Does anyone have a recommendation or experience with getting mixed properties like this leveraged?