An older (60's) remodeled home I bought via New Western for $223 that has a current tenant who pays $1650/mo; it has an apartment above a detached garage that was billed as needing "$10k in repairs to get to top of market rent."

Again, the solution(s) may take months or even years to sort out.During the process of figuring out the cause(s) of the problem and the solution(s), you'll be paying a structural engineer (and potentially other pros like hydrologists, framing experts, foundation pros, etc.).

My specialty and focus is on buying sub to and you have to bring ALL your own docs, trusts, POAs, disclosures, how to add proper adendums to the purchase contract etc. 

But, everyone has to live somewhere, and for most of us that means paying to love, so why not have someone else subsidize that cost while building equity for you. 

Trust me on this one.

If the seller will entertain it you write it into your offer - what you're willing to pay total, loan term, interest rate, down payment. 

For example, you can use credit cards for vacations you can't pay for. 

It is the funding that I am lacking.I feel that I am in a stalemate and the only way to purchase my first rental property is to generate more income than I am right now to get to the point of being able to pay the downpayment.Thank you all for reading this post and I appreciate any responses and advice.

I plan to be raising the rents on them because they are currently paying about 40% under fair market rent.

Paying rent will force you to maintain a personal budget, it will ensure your property produces the income necessary to operate the property, it creates a savings for you as a landlord so you can prepare for the next investment, and it shows how the property performs as an investment in case you have to sell.You need two accounts: checking and savings.