From your description it sounds to me like a casual read, much like reading a book on Henry Ford or Eli Whitney or other successful people, probably not the text used as the curricula for a business class at the Chicago School of Business or Harvard..Moving to the level where our OP is striving to attain I'd say he needs to concentrate more to graduate level classes, analytical studies, modeling, market testing, analytical finance and economics.

Well, it's probably not possible for anyone to have actual hands-on experience in every nook and cranny of real estate investing (although I do think that would be a superb preparation for note investing!).

We are only able to consistently find good properties because of the analytic software we developed, the evaluation/selection process and rehab process we have in place, our investment team and our own personal investment experience.

This article cited a Real Capital Analytics report suggesting that commercial real estate investment sales in 2Q 2017 were 5% less than in the same quarter of 2016.

I would ALSO highly recommend 2-6 unit buildings for anyone who does their own management and wants to have superb cashflow should their day-job tank...this is something that LS is very supportive of, but I'm assuming it's not a strategy they would recommend until they get to know the individual better and are comfortable they could handle the responsibility.

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However, I would think so long as we can demonstrate the cash-flow can service their note and provide sufficient reserve, as a debt financier they woud be satisfied.What I am looking for at this point is a) a general indication of whether we are rowing in the right direction;b) tips on how to package/present an offer to a financier ... in engineering it is analytical and easy, my experience thus far in real-estate (with Sellers and conventional mortgagees) is there is a far higher degree of subjectivity in decision making.c) Any indication on what we may need to change in qualifying our properties prior to striking a deal ... i.e. do any of our conditions need to be tightened?

Find out what are the hottest zip codes in the city.....theres a youtube video on how to do that for free......cold calling and texting first.....dont spray and pray.......be analytical with it.....make it make sense

Perhaps web-based analytical tools?

If you are talking about new construction for a multi family apartment you have experience with a good tool for the job and I suggest you ask your very detailed and analytical questions to contractors.