The owners don't have to worry about advertising, applications, screening, vacancies, maintenance, etcetera.... that's the benefit of signing the lease option with me.

I would be more than happy to steer you in the right direction.Since moving back to the area where I grew up, I started dating a girl who also sees the benefits of investing in real estate.

To me if I am going int with partners I don't see the benefit of only buying one house together.   

In both cases, neither are looking out for the benefit of the investor. 

Sure, you will slow down the process of compound returns, but cash flow is only one of the benefits of real estate.

Credit scores didn't cross the pond, either, so there was no benefit to having good scores and no recourse after they left.  

If you think we could do business together and mutually benefit in the relationship, please reach out to me.

With a great market they start getting more competitive with creative financing options for your first investment property much like the prior advice things like lower down payments are an option.Find the absolute worst dog of a home in a decent enough neighborhood (ensure it doesn't need to be condemned and no structural, meth, or mold issues that will supersede the overall benefits of it and flip it for a quick chunk of change).  

I thought maybe I should get the benefit by investing in a property that he can live in and pay rent to me instead of some other random person. 

What are the tax reductions and grants that the first time home buyers can benefit from?.