We have had a HECK of a ride getting financing for our 4th Vacation Rental, but are finally getting ready to close. 

It has definitely been a crazy ride in the past 12 months and I am sure after construction starts I will have X10000 more problems.

You learn how to ride a bike by getting on and peddling not reading it in a book.  

Call a home inspector in your local area and ask him to do a ride-along, and that you are interested in pursuing a career.  

I would advise you against that as well, but if you have the capital to ride out many months of lousy and/or negative returns, you might have a winner down the road.Here is how I see your situation by the numbers that I sort of made up, sort of matched yours:% Down Payment 25.00%Down Payment $60,500 Remainder of closing costs $12,000.00 (commercial loans require a whole set of inspections that are rather expensive plus all the normal fees/checks/invasions)Total Due at Signing $72,500 Mortgage Rate 5.00% (this might actually be high)Length of Mortgage in years 20Monthly Mortgage payment $1,197.82 Taxes $400.00 (this is one of those numbers I'd like to know exactly)Sewer and Water $- ( i was under the impression that the tenants paid every utility)Trash $75.00 Heat/Utilities $- ( i was under the impression that the tenants paid every utility)HOA $- n/aCap Ex and Ops $300.00 ( you have 2 buildings which means 2 sets of things to go wrong.  

Two different colleges threatened to not give my two daughters their full-ride academic scholarships (not need based) unless the tax information was supplied, but I didn't even have it yet.  

Soon-to-be investor hailing from Maryville, TN ( pronounced Mur-vull ) to scene with zero direct experience in real estate.  

I Take weekend rides on my motorcycle for inspections.

It leaves from near the center of town, wanders through some of the older industrial sections, then through some lower middle class neighborhoods, and then out into a state park.Before I had a kid, I would ride it out and back at least twice a week.

@Tyas Frantz  Hope you'er ready for a great ride to the top by using all the free tools and more.