When a Class A apartment can be had for the same price as a Class B/C renovated unit, the B/C operator drops prices, and so on.But, in terms of making an investment decision, I think it is short sighted to rely purely on full market average data.  

I am happy that I made the decision.

Make an informed decision if you think people are properly trained?

Very conservative approach that protects the seller.There is a long thread that covers what I'm talking about atPace Morby Mentorshiphttps://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1001612-pace-...  

Lately, the topic titles on the BPRE podcast have sounded more like On the Market show, and the last On the Market show sounded more like a BPRE episode.

Exit StrategyResale Planning: Research market trends for optimal selling timing.Long-Term Investment: Consider retaining the property as a rental post-graduation.Marketability: Choose a property with appeal to future students or young professionals.By following these steps, you can make a well-informed decision and ensure a successful investment that benefits both you and your student during their college years and beyond.Peter Derry PHD Properties 

I feel like there’s a balance between being decisive and being reckless, and I’d love to hear how you guys approach this.

In my view they made the correct decision and if you spent significant time recovering this cost, well I think we all know what that is. 

I started a new post asking people's thoughts about insurance costs in your local area and specifically costs to rebuild and other challenges:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/95/topics/1227051-insur...

You might need to file 1099s if you used contractors or other people whom you paid for labor:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/1167632-expla...