@Chani Walker These fees are consistent with the industry norm.

Along with that, there's been a solid amount of industrial activity, particularly near Riverport and the Bluegrass Commerce Park, due to a strong presence of manufacturing companies in Louisville. 

Thus creating a monopoly that I don't know how to get out of.I've worked years in this industry from the PM-end and never seen anyone try to bill a percentage off the security deposit and, though a little digging is showing me it CAN be done, it seems like bad business.

You must have excellent connections, industry knowledge, experience, and project management skills to achieve this outcome for those numbers.

I am making some assumptions, but it sounds like you just don't have enough cash/liquidity to invest from a position of strength.

@Andy Ptak when jumping into the industry you have a few choices:1) Start at the bottom2) Leverage your experience to convince someone to give you a chance3) Decide between:--- Big companies who will usually start you at the bottom--- Small companies that will more like to a chance on hiring you for an above entry level position.

Certainly nothing ground-breaking in terms of ideas here, however I'll be very hands on (and on site) during the process to make sure that every step of the way is executed to a high standard and very carefully.Once I've hopefully developed a successful track record and gained experience, my next goal would be to move on to commercial assets (think multi-family, industrial etc) so that I can leverage my existing investor network and real estate knowledge to raise 3rd party equity and take on bigger projects.

One question for the community is: What are the next best steps I should take to further educate myself and get started in this industry to set myself up for future success?

I’ve been in the industry for several years, and my work has given me a solid understanding of property systems, maintenance, and what makes a home a great investment.I’m now looking to expand my own real estate journey by learning how to acquire and manage short-term and long-term rental properties.

Anyone can tell you they think there are deals out there, but ask them to show you which ones, and then evaluate it for appreciation as well as rental strength.