You may also be able to "make your market" if you can hit a critical mass.

The cost of the program is 35K upfront and then approximately $3500/mo for all marketing.

Are you in the Atlanta Market?

In a really good market, an investor can achieve 1% of the money invested.

North Idaho has good markets if you are in Washington and Boise or Eastern Idaho if you are in central Oregon.

Higher DemandThe rental market is shifting.

Depends on the market!

in a stick frame market and one of the cheapest markets to build we build with margin at $190 or so a square foot. that will go up over time about 5% or 10% a year to keep up with new build price increases. we are buidling a 3 story walk up and source some of the lowest priced crews.

If you are willing to live in urban areas you may want to talk to a local bank in your market and see if they have any incentives or grant loans for certain areas.  

I am considering getting into this space (looking at some courses), but worried that its too late, and that deep local market knowledge/understanding of buyers/connection with developers etc is required to make this work, which only incumbent/long term investors will have and would be hard for a new entrant starting from scratch to catch-up...is my hypothesis valid in your opinion ?