I suspect this is due to either a better sales group, or the risk was simply adjust higher on the ones I went in. 

No, right, it wouldn't be, because your not LOOSING anything your simply not profiting at rate expected. 

Going into a war zone simply for cash flow is not worth it in any case.

Simply put, get a real estate license. 

Was it simply experience, or were there particular resources that were helpful to you? 

We're most likely looking at multi-family (initially) in lower cost of living regions simply to make it affordable for us to get into the game. 

We are a capital partner and move like no Lender can move. thats where the great deals are going or at least what i see as its my day job LOLPS  in the old days  the west coast buyer had to get pre approved by the west coast mortgage lender and that included an appraisal up front so we knew the numbers would work then when rehab was done the mortgage brokers simply had the appraiser do a 442 update and the file closed. 

Very simply, multifamily spreads out your risk if a tenant moves out generates more income with more units and disproportionate amount of increase in expenses as there are more tenants to deal with.

Blah blah blah.I love the Podcasts (I listen everyday sometimes multiple podcasts everyday and covered a bunch during a recent rehab) but there are a lot of those stories and I'm wondering if this opportunities are simply not in the cards for those of us building a portfolio today.

If I narrowly look at ROE, does that simply ignore the upfront cash investment and just focus on my efficiency of current equity position?