I am currently an MBA (Analytics) student and obtained a marketing degree as of January 2020. 

As you noted, it is critical to find superb sponsors to invest with and you can't afford to invest and watch the sponsor for five years before you find out how good they are.

I'm in the data and analytics field and that is my full-time gig! 

Taking a more analytical approach I'm looking for a place in the halo region of a nice neighborhood with older housing stock (that's pretty much everywhere in PGH...) and a disproportionate amount of renters.

😜I’m very analytical and try to use everything at my disposal- Pricelabs, Awning, Rabbu, current Airbnb/VRBO listings, local PM’s, and other properties rent rolls for comparables.

I'm moving to Durham next year to get a Master's Degree in Analytics from Duke.

Proximity to me so easy to manage, superb location, nicely designed layout of apartment, can be used in a variety of ways - STR, month to month or even as a home exchange property!

Proximity to me so easy to manage, superb location, nicely designed layout of apartment, can be used either as a STR or month to month.

I wish I had them as STR because the location is superb, but...

In the reality of realty, as I like to call it, estimations of value must be based on experience, knowledge of the local markets, intuitiveness and an analytical approach based on comparable samples.