I'm not the voice of experience here, but as someone looking to do the same as you I would have two thoughts...1) To make the cash flow happen, I would definitely be looking at a 30yr loan vs a 15yr.  

Usually depreciation is one of the most valuable tax savings effects of rental properties when you ordinarilly own them but how is that handled with a self-directed IRA? 

(P.O Box for correspondence, Google voice number, identify potential contractors/handymen?)

I feel like depending on what the plans are for that land will effect the contract price.

What effect will that person being in the apartment with Ebola do to the prospects of renting that unit in the future, will it need to be disclosed?

I'm also not an 'expert' on this REI stuff, by any means... but 'market cycles' are 'predictable' in the sense that the same people control them and pray off of the 99.9% like clockwork... and as many an 'insider' have said, in effect: "Watch what the herd is doing... and be prepared, then do the OPPOSITE."

However i want to buy my very first home via first time buyer, i dont have money for a down payment and i dont want to make this decision effect me in my  real estate investing.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/10/03/the-beginners-guide-to-highly-effective-real-estate-networking/

http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/09/30/14-effective-pages-for-a-fully-optimized-lead-generating-website/

For example, city of Austin has some rediculous energy efficiency requirements as well as ever-changing codes that take effect on properties with an ownership change regardless of how old the building is.