With that being said both are great strategies in Atlanta because there are properties to be had at great prices that allow for one or the other and even both in some instances.

For instance, you should, reasonably, expect to get $150/door in Midwest markets.

If we wanted to get into how to do it.. then that's sales training and other hands on stuff and those things are time consuming and don't happen to me anyway in an internet forum and if you really want to know chapter and verse in many instances you need to hire qualified people to teach you.. just like you hire lawyers to do your docs or CPA s to do your tax's..

For instance, a good deal for a public REIT might only yield between 4-6% but that would not suffice for smaller investor.

@Carrie Albertson In these instances, you should go with your gut feeling and especially if you are going to be living on the other side of the property. 

For instance, retail (50-100K) type investors are being offered value-add deals (by experienced syndicators) around the 15-18% IRR, at this stage of the cycle.

For instance, let's assume you're making 100K per year but because you are young, you are willing to utilize your "free" time in order to learn a business/work. 

For instance, I would pay off credit card debt, avg. interest rates are above 15%, first starting with the highest interest rate credit card.

For instance, purchase prices in Bayview 53207 Trulia Green will be much different than Trulia Green areas of 53212 or 53218.

For instance, maybe you can find an off market apartment community for them to purchase in exchange for bringing you in on the GP (general partnership) side.