My friend and I are trying to get our real estate careers started, and we're finding it pretty difficult to afford the 20%-25% down payments for the properties in our area.

As a complete beginner, I would appreciate feedback from the community on things to consider when looking at this particular geographical area and when purchasing a multi-family home in the next 6 months in today's difficult and expensive market and yet still come ahead by lowering significantly the mortgage payments or even breaking even.

If you're in a small town, it may be difficult.

On second home loans you only have to put 10% down, I would just do that if I were you, sounds likes a great opportunity (also you maybe surprised  doing seller carry on 20% is not nearly as difficult for the seller)

As your first true investment, what were some of the most difficult or scary parts of this whole deal?

It's difficult but not impossible to be involved into a multifamily syndication!

A couple of the reasons/concerns I am considering this:-Difficult to go the BRRRR method in the current market and actually find a deal (too many non-Texans, like myself originally paying way over market value on MLS)-I liked the work the builder did on our property, and we would ideally build a base model without much customization, and add forced appreciation in the second home while we live in it over time-I would like to take advantage of the current rates, as well as my VA benefit with the best strategy possible in starting the rental journey-I know our current home would rent and cashflow well (only con/concern is that our upgrades are on the higher end, rather than econo-rental-friendly: porcelain wood-look flooring, granite countertops etc.) 

I agree that the intention behind it is to weed out buyers that are not serious, and yes it does make long-distance investing more difficult, although nothing is impossible. 

That’s wild tbh they really make it difficult for someone To grow they portfolio, and what made you get into investing ?

What is so difficult about foreclosures that people don't talk about them as much?