Real Estate is definitely not just a "numbers analysis" and you are definitely thinking about things the right way - but I think a good next step for you would be to spend some time putting a lot of this stuff into a (very) basic financial model/spreadsheets mapping out all the potential costs and estimates on effect (effect on value, on exit, different scenarios) - I think getting started with that framework should help with these decisions immensely

If you are looking for someone to teach you syndication, a common thread is to start a thought leadership platform: podcast, post on LinkedIn, post on BP, create YouTube content.I would say, if you have almost no understanding of what Cap rates are, the basics of underwriting and excel modeling, how to find brokers, etc a mentor can help accelerate your learning.  

They seem to have a good business model and one of the owners is an investor himself which is definitely a plus, but they charge a leasing fee (to find and get a qualified tenant into the property) equal to 1 month of rent, which comes out to an additional 4%-8% on top of the monthly 10% maintenance/management fee depending on how long the tenant stays.

I had my fare share of financial modeling and asset management and can say I know how to analyze deals and asset manage very well.But, I was not too involved in the closing phases of the deals (lawyers, reports, debt placement, contract negotiations, parts of the DD...) so I lack knowledge in those parts, which I make up for in reading ton of materials and listening to podcasts.• After that I worked for three years as a management consultant at McKinsey where I sharpened my business acumen, problem-solving, storytelling, and presentation skills.

The second question is what criteria do you use for deciding when it is the right time to expand your model to look at other opportunities that you may not have considered previously? 

Doesn't sound like it will be a particularly hard model to copy, and when the word gets out you could find 10 houses on the same block under cutting your prices by 50% or more. 

The whole financial freedom through real estate movement/model has been created on the back of artificially low interest rates following the Global Financial Crisis and that model won't work anymore for most unless interest rates or real estate prices in the US drop dramatically and most economists think they won't and for good reason.

For the AC, I went with the GE Profile ClearView window AC unit, specifically the 8,300 BTU model which runs off of a standard 110v outlet, and is available on Amazon with Prime shipping.  

I think that he has a very good model. 

There is also alternate rent models such as STR, MTR, rent by room.