I concentrated mainly on real estate sales until last year, when I started getting more serious about adding some REI into the mix.In 2013, I partnered with one of my clients, and we've been putting together a portfolio of rental properties - duplexes, town homes, and a condo so far - all owned by our LLC (soon to be many LLCs).Ideally, with BP, I'd like to learn, network, and hopefully contribute something worthwhile to the community.  

It auto plays so I just turn the speakers off.

The 203K loan program auto converts into a term note.If you are flipping it and can get it sold before the note is due in full....then no worries.This is the reason I have a couple rentals with HELOCS.  

What terms would you say are ideal to have an understanding of in REI?

An ideal investment subdivision would have just a handful of floor plans and plenty of recent sales at similar prices.  

That was with Allstate, who also has my primary and auto policies.  

Alternatively, you could take the deal your FIL is providing but a couple of things to consider: - at that point your relationship will change to lender & borrower & - your income should ideally also be increasing over the years (this is to counter your point about feeling like your timeline is pushed back to purchase your own forever home). 

SO it does happen but not the ideal way to do things.

Ideally, I would like 500 to be sent out per month.  

If the latter two points are ideal, the type matters less.