No matter whether you are looking at commercial or residential property, the deals that “pencil out” at OFFERING price are few and far between these days.  

That way, there is some type of cushion to help against any high usage months, should they just happen to use more than your previous tenants did, or if you unfortunately get tenants who abuse the "utilities included" opportunity. 

Other advice, especially that pertaining to tax benefits, is also highly appreciated!

By and large, QI's have very high ethical standards, and are sometimes overlooked as the engines of this tax saving tactic.]REPUTATION MARKERS 📊INDUSTRY STANDINGMembership in professional organizationsLeadership roles in FEAEducational contributions to the industryRelationships with major title companiesCLIENT RELATIONSHIPS 👥Testimonials from CPAs and attorneysReferences from title companiesLong-term client relationshipsTransparent fee structuresRELATIONSHIP RED FLAGS 🚩Overly familiar with your realtor/brokerKickback arrangements (illegal!)

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.

Of the conversations I have had with people discussing hard money lending, some seemed opinionated in that the high interest rates and terms were enough to scare them off.

They offer networking opportunities, education, and local insights for landlords.4.

I am a highly motivated individual, however, and I'm dedicated to getting into real estate investing.  

Their commercials seem higher quality than the no on prop 33 commercials (who have similar budgets but from much more sources).Hopefully voters educate on this and strike down this proposition for the third time. 

Focusing solely on numbers often leads to the purchase of low-quality properties.