However these two gentlemen were business men through and through and it sounds like your more into other things than pure business..

As you save more money you can start buying the properties as pure rentals. 

Perhaps creative financing is a way to break in with this seller at a price that may be closer to what he wants.Anyway, the above is purely for illustration with no guarantee it resembles anything you may want to pursue.

This would not make a great investment deal if I were to look at it purely as such, due to not having a significant, positive cash flow. 

Purely because of supply and demand the homes at these prices do not move as quickly.  

Selling this place would be purely economic.

It's purely a guru generated term and while improperly used, mostly for the effect of an inflated ego for those who claim to be investing, I'd think.

Purely speculation based on those pictures, but Picture 1 looks like the upper balcony has a post in the center, possibly load bearing, but no post directly below.  

If you want pure cash flow it needs to be compared to the 2% rule, if you want more safety and possible appreciation you are unlikely to find it. 

Start with $10m as an aspirational goal and revise as needed : ) As i said, pure skill I don't think can get you there--so it doesn't seem necessary to define what that skill set looks like.