County earned $75 grand on that one.

I spent a few grand sanding and refinishing.

Sure you could hit a grand slam , once or twice in your life , but constant base hits bring in the same amount of runs on a steady basis 

Rookie real estate investor looking for some advice:I purchased a duplex in Grand Rapids, MI last October (2023).

because I was paying my bird-dogs vs having them pay me and just promise how someday, maybe just maybe they will bring the grand-slam of a deal and then I will be paying them oh-so much $$$$$ Seriously, from those buying into this I gotta understand how your mind works, no insult meant, I am genuinely intrigued and baffled because if it's a good deal you can go to any number of investors and get $, not a one will charge you for the opportunity to present them deal. 

A grand negative cash flow is not the issue.

We started looking at coaching programs and some of these things just seem ridiculous at 20-40 grand, and some seem more like life coaching programs as opposed to real estate programs. we don't want to syndicate we really would just like to find someone that we can bounce deals / ideas off of and have them assist in underwriting and giving us a better sense of security that we are doing the right thing.

The pros of not using an agent are you save a few grand the cons are who is going to be negotiating and creating the offer and purchase and sale agreement.

So that's my Rx for you; do LESS, simplify, don't chase grand-slams swing for the bases, focus on the simple obvious, be a good landlord. 

Chances are if you’ve ever been to the Grand Canyon you’ve driven through it.