It is much more efficient to spend some time up front to really understand the market.

Using your own funds to pay down your loan so you get a bigger loan sounds like a zero sum gain (aka IE using 1 dollar to pay down loan so you can net 1 more dollar from the new proposed loan) So how are you going to net more cash when spending 1 dollar to get another 1 dollar ?

I spend half the year in Indonesia where me and my wife rent a home.  

If I had $10 for marketing, I would spend $9 on the lead list and $1 on some tool to do something with those leads.   

In all fairness, I have never participated in their mastermind group, but I have been pitched grossly over priced so called education programs from people that spend more time promoting and exaggerating what they’ve done in the hopes of getting a check from me with 5 zeros.

The idea is by spending big on amenities, you'll outperform other properties. 

*In addition to the $7,000 weekly salary that she drew from ORES, Van Gundymisappropriated more than $5.7 million in investor funds for her own personal use, spending thosefunds on a variety of purposes, including payments for her nanny, private school tuition for herchildren, veterinarian bills and boarding costs for horses, cash withdrawals, auto payments, retailstores, and debt extinguishment, among other personal expenses*

I don't spend a lot of energy on worrying about that.

Can find stuff down in Macon that is 1% but you will spend sooooooo much money on repairs and chasing rent it won't be worth it.

The ONLY reason to invest in real estate syndications rather than REITS is better return.  2- if you decide syndications are better for you,  spend due diligence on vetting the syndicator - eliminate any that do not have the experience, verifiable track record, or investment philosophy you want.