In fact, I would recommend these approaches over the conventional purchases with a downpayment and a mortgage. 

I am looking to invest in my first property and as most of you likely felt early on, it can be a bit overwhelming.

Is there a tutorial/explanatory video available somewhere and a standard letter I can send to explain how LOs work?

I am both an investor and a licensed realtor in the New Orleans area.

This is a great Question and as you can see in responses, every market is different, some markets are seeing a slowdown and in other areas are still crazy.

Staging varies in cost, 1% and a minimum is common (200K).  

View report*This link comes directly from our calculators, based on information input by the member who posted.This duplex is in an "older" part of Arlington, and a property manager from BP thought the rental numbers were reasonable.

And as an out of state investor, you are required to have a property manager.

Our faculty adviser is an investor and a leader of a local real estate club.

Look into rolling it over into a self-directed IRA and, as others have stated, do some research on it because there are pitfalls.