Keeping your costs low by choosing investments with minimal fees will further enhance your returns.

(To be transparent, my background is in SFRs and residential rehabs in a different geography -- not self storage.)

@Ian Stedmanthere is basically no cash flow right now on residential. 

Not all (self cert) architects though do multifamily residential so if you want to consider a few options you will have to reach out individually to find out the architect's practice areas.

I know it's probably rare for someone to be looking to buy an investment property before their own residential.

Let the GPs do the work and you reap the reward of their hard work and their expertise.Here are some of my thoughts about residential RE investing:- The market is more challenging than in many years. 

Speak with a tax pro to determine if the roof is QIP eligble to be expensed, only applicable for non-residential real estate. 

As you may have been aware, this residential property will be purchased by me on [CLOSING DATE], and the resulting change in ownership will take full effect on said-closing date.

Residential 1-4 does not get cap-rated. 

Have you done any commercial land development or just residential?