It was also hard to control.

Strong or weak markets overall may affect interest rates but I don't control them.

Personally I wouldn't do it.I want to control the area I am investing in to preserve values as much as possible.I have seen many landlords and the range of how each works is mind boggling.Some are slum lords and know it,some do an okay job but think they are the best thing since sliced bread,and then a few actually keep up their properties really well.I would buy the whole building or no dice.The 2 unit you are looking to buy you could contact the landlord next door and see if they want to sell.

Some pros: no large cash down payment; no bank/lender qualifying in order to control the property; ability to walk away from the deal at the end of the lease if things are not working out, and minimal risk.

If you can't control your DOM, your reserves may dry up pretty quick depending on how high you're aiming (most of what I have read has ARV's in the 150k type range, not sure where you're aiming).

With Asia's growth, Japan presents a perfect alternative to China, which many still fear is difficult for foreign investors due to government control and high corruption.

They don't have rent control like Los Angeles, but what else attracted you to them vs other areas?

You have to remember that this is your property and you are in control, not vice versa.

I see these packages all the time of varying quality and the better packages have more information rather than less and have an experienced agent who controls and solicits the asset pool.I would look at putting together a property level cash flow alone with an aggregate.

I'm assuming you are referring to using a lease option to gain control of a property and then re-renting or selling to another.