However, I hear all the time that interest rates are so low that it's worth it to finance real estate with debt if possible.

I want to be able to carve my own path and not be worried about people telling me "if you're not in your career by 35 you'll be doomed to low-paying jobs." 

I was hoping I'd find support for whether or not it would be a good idea to get hard money for a 25% down payment, traditional financing for the remaining 75%, with all profits (rent less both loan payments-HML and traditional financing, prop tax, insurance, and 10% maintenance fund) going to the hard money lender under the loan is paid off. 

My idea of getting into real estate investing was coming up with 20% of your own money (that's 60k where I live for a low end property), traditional residential mortgage, net maybe $200 a month if I was lucky and repeat the process when I came up with another 20% until I had maybe 40 properties.

The expense includes taxes ($12K), sewage, water, and other various maintenance items.

Properties are generally much cheaper relative to the rent they pull in, than in NY.3) Lower fixed costs - lower real estate taxes for starters relative to your rent roll, etc.4) Lower variable costs - labor is A LOT cheaper here.  5) Less stringent code enforcement.6) Less maintenance - milder weather, and younger average age of homes make for less maintenance.   7) Diversification - low entry price to buy property allows and investor to manage risk by buying properties in different neighborhoods instead of putting more eggs in one basket.In additional to the benefits I listed above the city is growing so fast that homes rent very quickly, often times before the sale of the home.  

I asked my realtor why the low price and the previous owner owes $119k and is trying to leave the area.

I do understand that if I were to resell when the tenants are in place I would need to transfer the money, but I have some small maintenance items I want to address this month and instead of borrowing the money from my bank to make repairs can I use the last month rent money.  

Your lender is giving you an opportunity you wouldn't have otherwise (to buy, rehab, rent, refinance and repeat) and in this instance, looks like a fair (even low) price.  

If you would like to go into more depth on Co-Wholesaling, just reach out to me and i'll answer any questions you have on it.2) Driving For DollarsDriving for dollars is the cheapest and least risk for acquiring property (unless you are in a bad neighborhood, haha)in short:you drive around and take note of all the properties with deferred maintenance, boarded up windows, over grown grass, or obviously vacant.