Really the numbers don't look bad at 95k but for my first property I want to gain some negotiating experience and see if I can get him lower and make this a great deal for me.  

@Elizabeth ColegroveI think that idea of the chicken noodle book for the military investor. the amount of knowledge i have gained in such a short time on here has been unbelievable and i really want to spread the word out to others and have been already to everybody i know that has ever said they have thought about investing in real estate.

They said they moved in so that they didn't have to pay capital gains on the property and needed to live there for two years, and will sell it then.

This way I can still have money to pay my bills, ill gain experience and I can take calls hopefully and not miss them like I would if I were at my 9-5 medical office position.

Every once in a while, I'll get a great deal on a property and flip it because that gain would be worth 5 years rental income so i go ahead and cash out.

Money is a necessity and therefore something I HAVE to make, especially living in Atlanta, so whatever way I can make enough money, gain the necessary knowledge, and gain much needed experience, I am ALL for it!

If you sell a house for 200K and you have a 100K gain and want to only buy a 150K replacement property you will pay tax on the 50K buy down but still shelter the remaining 50K in gain through the 1031.The other thing that's not quite right is your last statement above.  

Hoping to gain advice and recommendations for buying correctly and setting up my investments as a business.

My goal is buy and hold livable properties as rentals and do the whole passive income / gain equity over time thing.I have been looking around at bank owned properties mostly in Maryland (including the suburbs between DC and Annapolis, and up to / including Baltimore City).

Between BP and the library, you can gain any information that you need.