What skills can you leverage to grow a portfolio? 

I am considering taking the CCIM courses both to better my underwriting skills, and also to expand my network.

My rentals tend to be C-Class (safe neighborhoods, but lower middle class), plus I'm in a soft rental market. 

What skills and experience are you bringing to the table?

Already looked at that just for rehab.The roof is new but soft in a few areas along the sides of the building.

What strengths, skills, and attributes do you rely on within yourself? 

I have come up with a list of skills that I feel would be a great help to the renovation process:3D Modeling/Building Measurements-With a 3D model you can get accurate floor plans, elevations and 3D views of the buildingTest Fit Layouts-Once the 3D model is built, multiple layouts can be created and analyzed-Potential problems can be solved before they are builtMaterial Calculation/Cost-When the design is finalized, square footages and materials can be calculated based off of the modelVisualization Renderings-You get imagery of the building/spaces before construction moves forward-There is a reference during construction Construction Documentation-Specific details can be drawn and dimensioned Staging-A house with furniture better shows the potential of the space Architectural Photography-People want nice pictures that actually show the space and they want a lot of themI would appreciate your feedback on this. 

I was led to believe that the term "hard money" refers to fact that the loan is based on the value of "hard assets", in this case real estate, versus a borrower's creditworthiness or "soft assets" such as brand recognition.

He is a close relative, I trust him and his handyman skills for fixing small stuff that doesn’t need a plumber or electrician to come out for.

If you don’t, keep practicing to up your skills/knowledge.