Can I dictate the remitter listed on the check (LLC vs controller vs IRA) based on the needs of the transaction - my local bank would at least give me that much latitude - or is that determined by these banks?

If it were to read LP member owns XYZ% and will receive a certain percentage of proceeds based on property performance, that's a different story.

This is based on demographics/interests including age, profession, income etc.. 

This is home for us, and our portfolio is based here.

It seems most commercial lenders base loan amounts on rental income rather than the property’s value.

Real estate's "gross rent multiplier" is Wall Street's "sales to revenue",  "cap rate" is roughly "P/E ratio".When evaluating markets and investments I tend to start with GRM (or lazily the 1% rule), then attempt to return a cap rate based on assumptions about costs, then I work my way to multiple years of projections (assumptions about inflation, amortization, tax benefits, etc), and if I am partnering with one of my smart friends I have to pull up an IRR (internal rate of return).I also look at regional employment levels, median income to rent ratio in the zip code etc. 

As an investor, I value an agent coming to me with deals based on their in depth knowledge of the real estate landscape, networking, connections, and additional information they might be privy to. 

Good post with a few good ideas, thanks.A note about San Antonio, is that it historically has a big turnover in homes due to the military bases in the area.

Your advice about understanding the underlying accounting and how the numbers are generated is an excellent point—I can see how that would help me identify any gaps or inaccuracies in the financials.I also really appreciate the insight on how T-12s differ based on the number of units.

Sounds like you need an agent and/or contractor based on your strategy.