It attracted a lot of buyers who loved the charm and quality of the house.

If the school is the selling point, lead with that "Located in the Wilmette school district, this charming...". 

Now remember, that 10-15% encompass ALL real estate types, so only about 10% of that 10% know investment real estate.

Don't allow yourself to get distracted by all that RE can encompass.

However, he was very upfront about the cost of his services and what all they encompassed.

A really charming fourplex may sell for above the "market value" of its rental and development potential because the buyer is willing to pay that much to live in one of the units and rent out the rest.

So when looking, first make sure there are no regulations against weekly rentals, then go find a good deal that has some vacation charm to it.

Investing encompasses many avenues in which you can travel.

All of them complement each other and together we encompass the entirety of the market .... some FSBO still out there though ....they get tired soon and come to any of us depending on what they need, want and can afford. that's the beauty of the free market .. there are offerings for everyone.

The 50% rule is a general guide and encompasses expenses such as normal maintenance, taxes, insurance, property management, vacancies, advertising, etc.If you're able to calculate the actual expenses, based on data you can find in your area (for insurance, taxes, if you plan to have property management, if you're covering any utilities), you'll have a much better picture of the quality of a deal.