I work full time but looking to build a passive investment portfolio.

At first, it would be for smaller commercial properties, but if the relationship grows well and we make a good team, I'd love to scale up with them.Ideally it's a win-win for all:For the PM:They get a large chunk of equityThey get more business.They get access to my investors' capital for potentially future dealsIn a way, they eat what they killFor me:I look favorable to the lender with an experienced PM team as a partnerI'll get a deal under my beltI'll be able to get help with the downpayment, reducing the burden on my investors and myselfFor my investorsSure, they lose out on some equity, but they'll get a (slightly) higher return due to the lower monthly management feeThey'll sleep easy knowing that the PM has skin in the game and is experiencedTo be clear, I'm playing the long game, so I'm more than willing to do say, a 55/30/15 split with the PM/Investors/Myself and with a 3-5% monthly management fee.

The rental SFR game requires reserves.Also openIng a HELOC does Impact your DTI.

Agree with Charlie on short term in Boston - new regs make that less feasible in Boston proper - but I work with folks who have robust portfolios of short term rentals in Malden and Chelsea, with the transit access of Boston but fewer limitations.

He agreed but since he was busy on the job we didn't really have time to discuss it further.So of course, one option would be for me to just be his private money guy and structure it as a debt deal, but I'd really rather get a little more skin in the game and partner with him. 

Be patient, work hard, get your degree and start investing now at a small scale and watch your portfolio grow.

As someone who runs a portfolio of rental properties valued over $50M+ as well as a General Contracting company that will do well over $3M in renovation sales this year i've got to say a guy in your position doesn't yet know what he doesn't know.

Your experience as maintenance supervisor will be a huge benefit when you own properties - you'll be way ahead of the game! 

In that scenario they said you would need to put down the initial 20% using your own cash (your stake in the game).

I'd call the tenant up and tell them that you want to up your game as a landlord, and part of that is making sure the place is a great home for them.