You then market the property at 100%ish of value, then put the two of them together and keep the option fee for your efforts, which should be several thousand bucks, with very little out of pocket and very little risk. 

 @Buck Iviethere are almost 100 crowdfunding sites for real estate at this point and all sorts of projects are getting funded.

Your $1 interest won't hold up if the seller refuses to sell a $100,000 property over a 5 year term, horsefeathers, you only have a financial interest of a buck in a 100K property, the consideration is grossly insufficient and a judge will tell you so.And, unless you add a title restriction to the title on a property, the owner in title CAN sell the property with a valid option given to another party, it doesn't transfer any title interest but only an equitable interest to the extent of the consideration, the option price.

40 bucks a month in profit, no thanks.  

You can get paid like 5 bucks a piece to take them away.

The mortgage payment for our home combined with other monthly expenses does not allow for me to save much cash, about $100 bucks a month at this point. 

I've been dealing in the NJ area but am interested in other markets where I am able to get more bang for my buck.

In this litigious society if someone wants to make a buck and they know the owner is an individual and the management company is an LLC i think they would go after the owner since they are not shielded and would have "more to lose".  

It holds you back a bit because you can't find a great deal, finance it, and flip it to get the most bang for your buck. 

More for your buck and better rental opportunities.