If you have to rely on BP to check your advisors' advice - they are not advisors.One of the most fundamental advice they apparently failed to give you is that you and your SDIRA are completely divorced from each other.

@Alexander Canha Look for markets that have strong economic and demographic fundamentals with vibrant, modern economies.

Figure out wha their Problem is and solve that  The fundamentals of your response is wrong.If someone doesn't want to sell or if they have no problems to solve, no matter how many times with what method you reach them you won't make a deal.No matter how hard you try to be friends, the flaw here is, that all this is all good and dandy IF there was motivation to sell.Motivation is an absolutely necessary condition for any of this to work.The system you all are discussing doesn't filter out motivation.

They tend to look at market fundamentals and are okay building slow & steady.

The property fundamentally is a solid asset and if new debt could have been placed on the property lowering cash requirements and annual debt service, the property was a solid Go.It was difficult to walk away but I believe it was the right decision given the issues listed above as well as ongoing issues with Covid and general uncertainty in the economy.I have three other LOIs out at the present moment - so right back at it.While highly motivated to do my first larger multifamily deal, it is more important to do it right.

The rest can really only be learned through "on the job training" I've got the fundamentals relatively down and I'm ready to begin analyzing properties and finally getting some skin in the game!

I think it is important to consider a fundamental point in this.

The first home was the hardest, no doubt, but this second home is just as fundamentally important. 

However, getting PM experience is a fundamental piece of becoming a successful RE investor.

They are fundamentally different in a lot of ways, but it is awesome having connections in the industry from having done deals.