Check out this video Brandon put together about how to evaluate a deal as well:See you around the site!

Welcome to BiggerPockets @Jim Roberts It's great to see that you're taking your first steps towards your goals.This video may help you evaluate deals you come across.

Since you plan on buying & holding, check out this video for a quick method on evaluating deals you may come across:

This video may help with a basic understanding of how to evaluate a rental property from the numbers perspective.

In the current case, I would have to surgically have the smile removed if the other party purchases the contract at our countered amount and then fails to close ... we'd be getting the property at a really good price then :)

Also, run the numbers with whatever financing is proposed(or different options to see what you want to propose to the seller) and see if you are satisfied with the cash flow.This video may help with that:

I have watched a few youtube videos of some things that are well within my experience level even as a inexperienced repair man and I have some tools.

If any tenant has a UPS on their computer {or video/stereo equipment}, or if you have any cable or telephony equipment on-site, it may have a UPS attached to keep it operational when the electrical service has an outage.

You might enjoy her videos.

@Nick Keesee , a few great resources I found about syndication are:Craig Haskell at valuehoundacademy.comJoe Stampone at astudentoftherealestategame.comJoshua Kahr (general commercial course) at http://vimeo.com/user2742987/videos