I'm an engineer with a background in finance.Would be great to meet a mentor that could lead me in the right direction so I can get started on the right foot.My goal is buy and hold for rental income--build a portfolio.

I took interest in real estate after a conversation with an older coworker not too long ago, and after doing some research both in books and on BiggerPockets, I decided I want to buy and hold apartments and other multifamily buildings.

If you feel like you can succeed with direct mail and get the houses on the cheap, then you'd have to find out what to do with it after you got the property (fix&flip/wholesale/buy&hold).

What is the minimum profit you are willing to accept in order to buy and hold?

I am interested in flipping (short term); and eventually doing some buying & holding.

Offer them a substantial non-refundable option fee to show I’m serious, deductible from purchase price, then use the option period to either find a cash buyer to flip it to or find suitable financing for myself to hold it.

So how do I structure the deal with Hard Money Lender if I am using this as a buy and hold rental?  

For me, it is working out nicely because we flip and buy and hold. 

Mine holds onto the original docs and handles the amortization, interest and payoff calcs for you and the seller.  

Better tax advantages if you hold them in IRA's etc..