I will also say that she gets quicker call returns that I do and since she knows what I like she can drive by a property and say "heck no".

Maybe pick up another part time job during your last year of college to add to your savings quicker.

I looked at loaning money on private yacht's one time but that was the same thing what if they don't pay me  how do I find the thing.also as you amass a larger portfolio your cash flow goes up and you can use that cash to pay cash for a new property quickly or put big down and pay it quicker.. its the same principal with people that we sell performing 1st trust deeds to .. they start with an amount an the next thing you know they have enough money for another one in a year then another in 6 months.. and it keeps rolling up on them.

Like most newbies, you wanted to do a deal yesterday, but like most you're lost, it's quicker to learn the right way than to try and figure things out for yourself.

I still make extra payment towards my student loans for a quicker payoff.

I'd find out why they are selling and see if a strong selling price (as mentioned above), or 7% APR vs. lackluster returns from a bank acct would entice, or the tax benefits, or perhaps a quicker closing with seller financing can get the seller to jump on it.

That would limit my options but could help get me into my next deal quicker.

We did the 15-year mortgage to pay it off quicker rather than cash-flow.

Realtors live within a group, and information gets passed along much quicker when you are in that group rather than outside.  

We have found section 8 tenants tear up the properties quicker than the non section 8 tenants.