Of course this requires some knowledge, a great contractor, a strong grasp of ARV, an ability to put money in or find private capital and prices that stay where they are or keep going up4) Invest in a market that is a few hours away so you can drive there and do the same as step 2 but with a little less risk becasuse you can go there quickly if need be. 

Lower price, 6 months no interest, higher rate, lower down payment, you are really only limited by your creativity & ability to negotiate a deal that works for you.

The old.....do I save on taxes and shoot down my ability to borrow....question.

Ask them what if any violations are listed against your property or those you intend on acquiring and that you plan to address said violations to the best of your ability in a reasonable amount of time and then follow through and do so.

I am a Realtor, and although it is nice to make more money from a single transaction, our duty is to fully represent buyers to the best of our abilities, which means showing them any and everything that meets their criteria.

Hey Matt,The loan provision refers to your ability to take a personal loan from the 401k plan, up to $50k or 50% of your vested balance, whichever is less.

I'd recommend your first pass is based on ability to find units with rent-to-value ratios that are solid.Step 2: Use jobs and economic growth to narrow down to 2 markets.

What's your ability to cover the additional payment required during vacancies?

If a borrower walks into a lender's office and expresses great concerns as to the condition of a property, its income potential, their ability to pay, or some other matter, do you really think a lender is going to force that borrower to proceed with a loan?

You'll find that a duplex is easier to get into due to comps being available over 3/4 unit SFDs to be owner occupied, always consider financing alternatives and the path of getting there.Take care of your own backyard first, it demonstrates your understanding of property maintenance and ability to pay a mortgage, taxes and insurance, when seeking investment loans. :)