Plus there is more supply of condos and nicer condos.I like the idea of either putting a ton down on an investment or paying cash becuase everyone says "insert bad thing here" will never happen ... until it does and your standing there being forced to take less rent while you have a fat mortgage you are having to subsidize with a regular job which is negitive cash flow.I have 40k saved now which will go towards the primary residence and then another 120k worth of raw land I can sell (estate just sold some like lots so I am pretty confident I can get at least 120k). 

Two of the houses I bought at the sheriff sale, I found the abstract in the house.First thing, call around to your local abstract companies, I give it a 50-75% chance they will be able to track it down for you(stored at an abstract company, or attorney's office).

If the property has carpet go to a grocery store and buy Borax spread into the carpet and repeat every 2 due until infestation is gone.

Its in a quite neighbor hood, not too bad of schools yet close to stores/shops and restaurants.

So I can't speak a whole lot to that but I'd be happy to give you generic advice from what I have experienced and seen younger members go through.1) Dress that extra step up (Not the bargain store shirts and pants), if money is tight go to a store find your sizes (coats and shirts) then go to a thrift store or goodwill type store.

The Bigger Pockets book store if full of great books: https://www.biggerpockets.com/store

For Starbucks backed by 20,000 plus stores  you generally get the full value of any tenant improvements you spend as the owner.What some owners do with local tenants is they pay the leasing brokers ( over time ) what they are owed and have language that if the tenant defaults and vacates then the remaining percentage of leasing commissions is not due.The leasing brokers want all the money upfront so it is a negotiation as to how to structure an agreement with payment.Now the PM company that does ongoing care for the property the lease up is a separate component from the management fee.

I'm curious where others are storing their savings/capital (i.e., down payments, etc.) given the low interest rate environment, negative yields in sovereign debt markets, and US stock market at all time highs - in lots of ways the markets seem discombobulated and signalling different things.

Paint shop stores might be a good lead.

Post flyers on local bulletin boards at colleges, stores, library, etc.