One of the easiest and simplest ways to start is networking and you can start doing that at a local REIA (Real Estate Investors Association) in your local area.

what's easiest way to find a property's market value?.

I started doing my own then eventually moved on to doing PM for others.Some days it feels like the easiest job in the world.

According to the article only about 20% of the properties and lots have value, the rest will cost a pile of money to raze ... sounds like the gift that keeps on taking.My Baba use to say no matter how hard you try, you'll never get milk from the bull.

The easiest way is to partner with someone who has prior apartment investing experience and decent financials.  

Perhaps the easiest way to avoid FIRPTA withholding is by making sure you do 1031 exchanges whenever you sell,  the  non-recognition of gain offered by the 1031 releases you from the requirements of FIRPTA.  

Personal properties allow you to receive a "gift" for the down payment but does not allow you to use them to cosign I believe.

Real estate investment (not flipping) is the common mans easiest path to financial freedom.

At one time you could have a first and second for 90% LTV and the investor only need to put down 10%, but we have not seen one of those in a while.Now, the downpayment could come from a family member (or other third-party) if (and only if) it is a gift (i.e. no expectation of repayment).

Easiest way to find buyers is to post an ad on Craigslist in the real estate section.