When you work at a large corporation (national or global) you learn a lot in your role, but also by osmosis, just by observing other people and seeing how projects are developed, business is done etc.

if vacant, does it need any work to be rent ready and stand out from the competition?

Our tools are a reflection of our ability to rationalize...This, in turn, is where the competitive advantage is.Think about it.

All 3 parts are critical to being successful here and we’ve been doing it with todays prices, todays competition and todays interest rates.  

Every investor has their own path, and hearing different perspectives will only enrich your journey.Challenges in Real Estate Investing:Finding deals: In competitive markets, it can be tough to find good deals that make sense financially.Capital and financing: Finding funding, especially as a new investor, can sometimes be challenging.Dealing with tenants: Managing rental properties and dealing with tenants can be tricky, especially with issues like late rent or property damage.Market risk: Real estate markets fluctuate, and external factors (like economic shifts or local development projects) can impact property values.I’d be happy to continue the conversation if you want to dive deeper into any of these topics!

i think less competition is primarily going to mean less margin per deal. 

Do a small sampling of listings that are your direct competition.

Raleigh/Cary is what I know well, but the competition is steep.

I have heard that CA is very competitive and very difficult to find deals in.

I don't have experience renting in California, but if your competition includes it, I'd probably want to consider it too.