Land is cheap and the regulatory environment is favorable.

Would cause me to not even ever considering that in today’s environment.

I really admire your focus on professionalism with your tenants thats how you create a good environment!

If you can get a big 4-5 BR house with a view for a under a million bucks, i'm pretty confident you can cash flow it with a good return, even in a 6%-7% interest rate environment. 

I literally laughed through the phone at his suggestion, because I was broke, in debt, and in every way and unqualified borrower, and the lending environment in 2012 was probably stricter than it had been since the invention of the 30yr mortgage.

Lenders desperately need/want business especially in this interest rate environment (right now, the main source of mortgage loan business in Florida is rehab financing as a result of the hurricane damages) and one way the big players differentiate themselves is by streamlining the process.

Introducing accredited investors to a diversified stream of consistent monthly preferred returns backed by real estate and real estate backed assets (notes) in a completely transparent environment.

Everyone will tell you it’s great to get started early, or you can just move after a year, but in the current environment in our region the rent your property will generate after you move out will likely be less than your mortgage, if you are tied to the area and feel confident you want to stay in whatever property you buy for 3-5 years go for it, if you want flexibility rent and throw that money into and index fund. 

High taxes, a declining population, and an environment that is less than friendly to businesses are important factors to consider.

I have not purchased property via their platform but I'd also note it's few and far between to try to find any deals that pencil in the current environment.  4-5 years ago one could find good cash flow with SFR properties.