The 'hold my hands' ones are typically more expensive with versions of design, fixture choices, designs for permit submissions, etc.    

Overall, I'd say they were a good choice, but I also have no basis for comparison.

You will learn a lot about a lot in RE and dealing with not only tenants but an employer, employees, contractors, accountants, attorneys and myriad other areas of RE that will help you immensely in your RE career moving forward.

Car payments take away choices and freedom.  

Com you, the bank usually will have to pay for those liens but only if you use title company they will give you the choice to buy or not title insurance .

If you rent to tenants under the Housing Choice Voucher program, formerly called Section 8, which I recommend, the rent you can charge is limited to what the Dept. of Housing and Urban development list in their annual Fair Market Rent study.

That's a curious choice for someone in Portugal.

Success is a process, failure is a choice

A hard money lender might be your last choice of the different lenders for you.

Once you are able to save 20 percent for a down payment if you have a decent credit score, and not too much debt you can purchase your first rental(if that's your choice to get started) and start from there.