I’m starting a venture as a Virtual Assistant and want to focus on helping real estate investors.

Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Clayton, Glassboro, and even Blackwood all MFHs where you can househack and be only a couple hundred dollars out of pocket.If you want to break even you could venture down to Vineland/Milville/Salem but you have to be prepared for a longer commute north and have a thicker hide.Best Luck!

Do you think an extremely custom/DIY rental unit will draw in OR push away possible renters?

My partner and I have started a new real estate venture up in Gillette, Wyoming.

@Camille JohnsonI can’t disagree with any of the advice given here, but I have a different take.As a point of reference, in the last 18 years I have raised over $200 million in private money.What you are experiencing is what every business trying to grow at a rapid rate experiences - lack of access to capital.Some high tech companies “solve” this problem by seeking venture capital.

If you are venturing out in a new, undeveloped area you either have to buy all the homes or you will sit waiting for another developer to come in and help you out. 

That being said, if you've done everything you can possibly do to find the owner with no results, and if the property is vacant and neglected, then don't be afraid to proceed carefully and in measured stages to take DIY possession.   

I was thinking to put the loan in an llc I already have, and either create a joint venture agreement between that person and I, or add them to the deed somehow. 

However, I think it's better if I just skip that part and work with him to get the deals done as a joint venture partner.He's in Pittsburgh, PA and I'm in Atlanta, GA.

To begin I'll be looking to use Wholesaling as my main exit strategy to build some capital and hopefully venture off from there.