@Alexandra Coryell this is going to be highly dependent on your lender and your builder. 

Looking forward to being a part of this vibrant community.Best,Jorge

Excited to be a part of this community

Are there any specific marketing channels or tactics that property management companies often overlook but can be highly effective in lead generation?

I get a leasing fee ( equal one months rent) and 5% of the collected rent.. however I get no pay for raised rents ( which I determine and raise yearly) nothing for repairs or work done to the apartments. so its basically the 5% and leases.. and since I took over we went from 30 % vacancy to we are at full capacity with a wait list, and I raise the rents by almost 70% in the last 5 years. ( yes you read that right) .

should i buy an apartment/condo to rent out as my first investment property?

Do not paint brick -- low maintenance becomes expensive high-maintenance, no thank you. 

Much like fix and flip loans spiked up to 11-14% for a while, and are now back in the high 9's to 11's, I think it's encouraging to see the terms floating back to closer to where they were before. 

My properties are typical mid-grade rentals in good neighborhoods (ie, not luxury apartments). 

Regarding limitation of taxes upon selling, you'll need to make your expenses high (at least on paper), but if your plan is to purely sell it and cash out, then you're going to end up paying capital gains taxes.