Here's things to think about-https://www.biggerpockets.com/...You always have the option of buying straight investment properties as an alternative.

An alternative is getting into a partnership or syndicate.

A bad one requires you to focus on them.Lastly, what is your alternative?

countless hours online, you can visit all of the national and local banks websites... seems about half have REOs actually listed. 

Alternatively, if you are not trying to be completely passive, I would suggest doing your own management of SFR from a distance as there are a ton of resources on BP to help you succeed.

Would love to talk alternative strategy that may satisfy our needs.Thanks!

There is plethora of  creative alternative lending available.

Hello investors!I'm searching for my first multi-family deal in the Tacoma/JBLM area where I plan to use my VA loan to finance. I do plan to owner-occupy. So far I've found some nice properties but they won't cash flo...

I can look a photos to see that the kitchen cabinets need to be replaced, or the floor needs to be refinished, or I need to purchase a refrigerator, but trying to figure out if there's a pipe leaking inside a wall or the furnace is 40 years old or the beams are sagging in the basement is something you need to see in person, so how do you not waste your time when you're at the point where you're ready to buy seeing countless properties that need more work than it makes sense to do from a numbers standpoint?  

Alternatively you can also do a FHA loan and cough up the PMI for a lower down, 4%?