I would not ask for a template from anyone, the better the contractor the more professional the contractor the better they are with documentation and getting things in order for templates.

I totally agree with you about spending time in person to build a network - my husband and I are definitely open to making trips to Buffalo or other markets we're interested in to get a better feel.

When you do that, you can get better pricing and leaves less room for error.The best advice is to push forward as quick as possible, fail forward, and always continue to introspect on what you would do differently and then ACTUALLY go back and implement that change (easier to say than do).

I think the unsuccessful and struggling units who have not jumped ship yet will continue to do so, leading to less supply, increasing demand, and a better year for the successful units. 

There are many ways to structure these deals, and in most cases, you can secure better terms by including the rehab costs in the loan.

I suggest to save up for 6-12 months while learning the market better or partner with someone who has the cash while you do the legwork.

Let me know if I can help you get a better understanding of this market sometime!

Learn from the exercise and do better on the next.Good luck! 

Well, anything is better than influencers, IMHO.

Better to look at data.