After that, I was confident we could clearly show the positives of the project to the board.I don't have a great answer on displaying a housing shortage for your area.

@Will Zena, this is like 'becoming a millionaire', no money, no skills, no nothing.  

If the owner redeems the 2nd month after you bought the OTC, you only get the 3% (1.5% x 2 months).Exercise those due diligence skills!

Then focus on improving your interviewing skills to help you build a solid team on the ground wherever you do choose to invest.

Then, obtain quotes from at least three actual contractors. ( insurance and all that depending on the work)You'll likely encounter three types of contractors:The Super Expensive Guy: Highly skilled but often in high demand, resulting in premium pricing.The Average Guy: Offers good quality work at a reasonable price.

There is a severe shortage of home to rent in north OC, when one of our client's homes come up for rent, it is a feeding frenzy.

The skill comes in sourcing deals that arent only on the MLS.

Since your metric is modest cash flow with long-term appreciation, focus on neighborhoods with a history of steady growth and tenant stability.As a realtor, you already have the skills to analyze deals—so trust your instincts and take action!

The severe housing shortage is increasing housing density from coast to coast.

It was put in place because the feds have increased immigration for the last ~10 years (over 5M people or 8% of our population) to the point that we now have a housing shortage.