I care about the rates as it directly affects the bottom line.

Unfortunately the short and mid term markets are slowing down.

Your not correct under many different circumstances.First property tax is 1.1% (fairly safe) with 2% annual increase (prop 13).Next expenses include a lot more than property tax and interest. 

They'll have all the connections to contractors and vendors you'll need to get the work needed done.

We all hear great advice on the podcasts but until you go through the process it is hard to know what to do. 

I highly recommend the book real estate by the numbers.

And this is a biggee wading through the fake lenders or the Joker brokers that tell you what you want to hear  but cant get the deals funded and you lose the deal and a lot of money.3. with actual PML  private people  usually have very limited funds so cant scale with them.. they can have a life event and just stop doing loans all together..

Many investors get excited and want to 10x everything, thinking they'll be the next Grant Cardone.

The short answer is yes, but it's much harder.

Understand that the cost to the investor is only the cash that's out of pocket.