My wife and I have obtained three traditional loans and one lease with the option to purchase, resulting in most banks turning us down based on debt to income (non-portfolio lenders). 

While this is municipality dependent, if the contractor is not licensed you likely cannot obtain the necessary permits and approvals.

This will increase the return above what can be obtained on a passive investment.The flipside of having the power to control everything is that it can be alot of work (and a full-time job if a person is putting in sweat equity).

How did you obtain financing?

Closer to entertainment district, services and mass transit.  

Now they are required to obtain a commission agreement before setting foot in a property to show it to you. 

He talks about obtaining private money.

Have you obtained any detailed cost/benefit analysis quote?

I am on a real estate journey to grow and obtain a potent Real Estate Portfolio.

First, most investors and owners of real estate related businesses are in one or more of the following situations1- they’re unable to duplicate their expertise that drives the ROI and they are at their personal max capacity as to time2- they’re obtaining high ROI by use of excessive leverage 3 - they’re obtaining high ROI by taking excessive risk4- they hit correct timing in the correct market, and this is not necessarily repeatable with any probabilityIn order for an investment or business to scale, we need the ROI (on a risk adjusted basis) to be sufficient to cover a PREMIUM risk adjusted return to passive investors; all expenses of managing the assets and the business, and a significant return to the “sponsor” providing compensation to him making the work, risk and time worth while.