We take care of it the correct way cutting no corners where a tenant usually will take a short cut .

I can only share with you how I started.I started with a duplex and work my way up - and that is the LONG WAY to do it - and after 20 years, I own 1,000 apartment units.There is a short cut - which is what I did when I transitioned to hotels.

An easy shortcut is to get this result with a goalseek in excel.

I think you and your friend are trying to save a few dollars, but in business you will learn those short cuts will cost you way more in the long run.

Sorry if this is not the short-cut answer you're looking for but there is no short-cut.

@Ondrej Brown I found this BP video to be very helpful: How to use the 50% Rule From my understanding, the 50% rule is used as a shortcut to see if a property is worth a more in-depth analysis. 

The "fast way/shortcut" is in fact the slow way and the "slow way/labourous" is the fast way in this business. 

Keep it simple, and don't take any shortcuts; buy in or near Pittsburg, or some place else where you have familiarity and connections, set yourself up with a local RE agent and interview some PM's, you can do a lot over the internet from anywhere, but focus on seeing properties during your periods in the US.

DEMAND is the foundation of your pro forma, so don't shortcut the process.

THAT will short cut your learning curve.