I'm not thinking of 'scaling' my business by becoming a 'passive investor' in someone else's business.

To become a true business owner or investor, you need to leverage your time through others.

You're running a business and want to just make money.

It separates your personal assets from your business, providing a safeguard if any legal issues arise related to tenants or the property.

Investors might want to start exploring smaller cities or less-saturated markets poised for population and business growth.

And while I agree that debt is often the cheapest form of capital, if you are looking at a project that involves some form of value-add business plan, you can always refi either when rates come down or you have increased the yield on the asset to exceed your interest rate.But like Stuart noted, for many groups, even the most seasoned syndicators, raising call cash for their deals is effectively impossible.  

Plus the street isn't a busy one.  

If they are too busy or too lazy to answer a call or send a short email, what else are they too busy for?

But I really see this as just business-  I want the best market I can get into. 

The people there I have gotten to know and I will say I distrust them the least of all business people I have ever met!