How am I supposed to get any leads when all these other folks have experience and so many other advantages they can bring to the table?' 

If you want a specific CoC return @Justin Fox gave you an easy way to set a CF goal.If it were me, I'd figure out my goal and throw the relevant data (rate, appraised value, LTV, Op Data ect) into excel and have a data table show me what my CF looked like under different circumstances (ie. varying combinations of LTV and desired return) Then, assuming I had its modeled out, I'd do the same for IRR. 

We are still collecting chips rolls after rolls of dice in a red hot casino crap table.

Also found that they replaced area vinyl under at kitchen table with a completely different style and color of vinyl...looked horrible and I ended up redoing the whole unit. 

I have an amortization table built into my Excel sheet which is awesome for seeing 10 yrs out mortgage paydown. 

Partners have to understand what each party brings to the table and what it is worth. 

You can clearly see most landlords are on top of it and some, like myself, are leaving money on the table. 

That gives us what we need for instance: Say the house is presently worth $120,000If the house sold for $100,000 in August 2013 and the interest rate at the time was 5% with 3.5% downPurchase $100,000Down 3.5% - $3,500Loan Amount $96,500Interest 5%Put those into a mortgage calculator and the payment is about $518 a month WithOut taxes or mortgage insuranceLook at the amortization table and after 5 years of payments the principal balance is about $88,615So, present value (PV) = $120,00Amount owing = $88,615Assumed Equity = $31,385Build a spreadsheet so you can change the variables.

I would also say network with some lenders, or loan brokers to understand what needs to come to the table for your ideal situation to get the pre-approval and funding. 

So if you show up to the closing table and the seller finds out you are not the buyer, instead you're making a fee, it may not go well.