Are there any other techniques for making the tenants responsible for the heating/cooling with a centralized system instead of individual units?

It's quick, maybe three weeks, You'll learn legal aspects of contracts, contract law, title requirements, surveying, land uses, zoning requirements, construction componets and basic techniques, types and styles of housing, regulations that effect landlords, tenant and landlord law, what consitutes discrimination and how to deal with it, real estate financing and appraisal techniques and more!

I would love to hear any alternative to the quickest, and safest path to this goal?

That is a great question...You have your goal now you need an investment technique, plan of action and exit strategy.First:You have a great goal but based on the money you have to invest it is going to be tough to meet your goal so you are going to need an investment technique that will allow you to invest without using capital and due to the current market you will also need to use an investment technique that also will not require use of credit (investment properties need a lot of money down in this current market so credit is useless without the capital).Second:How much time and effort can you put into investing to reach your goal?

Again, it is not easy.There are some areas of the country and some techniques that can make it illegal.

Alternatively you could try working with another better realtor that understands investors .

Alternatively, spend some time where the properties are located and interview people in person.

They explianed what I would need to do, but also suggested a much less expensive alternative: sub-metering.I would install my own meters on each line, and simply divide up my water bill accordingly.Since the idea came from the water company, I have to assume that this is legal, but how can I find out with certainty?

The alternative is to hold the money while it is depreciating and use it to chase MFDs.

In your opinion, for a newbie wholesaler, what marketing techniques would you believe to be most cost effective on a limited budget, let's say 3K.Lists/mailouts?