Or should I play it safe and wait until my current job can pay for the mortgage even if the property is not being rented out.

That's where finding that sought after "deal" comes into play.

Based on what you described, I cannot see a way for you to get a line of credit for your brand new business since there is no revenue.

The other one they are both estranged from (not sure how that plays into it).  

What brand did you use in your rental property and how much did you spend? 

However, playing along I'll say the building with less units is either going to be in a better neighborhood or the units are much larger.

Ecosmart seems to be a good budget brand, but it's more like $450. 

I would then love to play as big of a role as possible in pushing the acquisition to closure, then repeating the process.

I'm not an attorney, and never played one on TV - but seems to me if he signed the original lease with the 15-day clause in it, then he accepted that provision and therefore must abide by it.

I struggle with whether I should take some money off the table and sell off some properties, reinvest in other areas that cash flow with some more room to grow on the apprecIation side, or just play the long game and ride it out.