Me having several thousand good reviews help, but personally I would not book a property with 0 reviews. 

@Richard Rafferty, given the relatively small nature you are looking to take on with your first syndication, personally, I would find it hard justify the typically 20-30k+ for a paid mentor. 

suggest you think of using digital business cards, but not typical ones like all solutions out there, something that is the first AI-powered digital business card and offers AI persona, which handle client questions and would act as your 24/7 personal assistant. it’s called Avatalk,

What I was getting at is that even investing "out of state", let alone out of the country, is more difficult when you don't have any personal connections and even more difficult with your first property.

Personally, I advocate for a long-term investment strategy and would recommend investing the funds, provided you are comfortable with the expected return on investment over time.

You could give them a thousand bad reviews, if they are the only person in town offering a specific type of product, people will still do business with them.

It’s important to recognize that your landlord likely isn’t thinking about selling the property right now, especially given their personal circumstances.

Quote from @Jessie Dillon: just my 2 cents.. i'm not a fan of the syndication model. there are better ways to invest more passively where you have more of a say in what goes on, can achieve higher returns, and can have your personal interests at a higher priority. 

I'm not a professional Tax person.

.✅ More Control – You’ll personally handle tenant screening, rent collection, and property upkeep, ensuring everything is done to your standards.✅ Stronger Tenant Relationships – Being involved directly allows you to build rapport with your tenants, which can lead to better communication and longer leases.Cons of Self-Managing❌ Time-Consuming – Dealing with maintenance requests, late-night emergencies, and tenant disputes can quickly become a second job.❌ Legal Risks – Chicago has strict landlord-tenant laws.