I have another question: Last night I attended a Bigger Pockets get together and the SAFE Act was brought up and it was mentioned that as a safety measure, investors can only seller finance to other investors.

There's a sweet spot in SFR where you have great safety because of the location but you can still achieve monthly cash flow and lock in for 30 years at an extremely low interest rate. 

Flight capital from around the world is attracted to the safety of the US, but it is disproportionately invested in just a few markets, like New York, causing those markets to become distorted and raising prices across the board for real estate.  

But provide the basics -- water, heat, working electricity and lights, no safety hazards, proper safety equipment (smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors), make sure windows and doors all lock and door jambs are secure and the place is clean -- no previous construction debris, no previous tenant debris, no bugs/critters.Then there's the matter of the rent and security deposit. 

.§ 5.075.Purchaser's Right to Pledge Interest in Property on Contracts Entered Into Before September 1, 2001(a) On an executory contract entered into before September 1, 2001, a purchaser may pledge the interest in the property, which accrues pursuant to Section 5.066, only to obtain a loan for improving the safety of the property or any improvements on the property.

They're not concerned about plumbing, electrical issues, safety hazards and the list goes on.

That  means having safety and security protocols in place to reduce your risk.

There are a lot of factors to weigh:  up front commissions and fees amounting to 9% or higher, potential for a decrease in capital as well as distributions lower than estimates, safety of the mattress stuffing (assuming no burglaries, fires or tornados), etc.

Others are safety hazards.

Don't confuse that with safety.