Trusting what the franchise tells you is foolish.I can tell you this: there are companies selling leads to real estate agents all the time.

Quote from @Jaren Taylor: Quote from @Chris Mason: If you have the ability to market and raise money, then you secure the down payment, and do the normal commercial mortgage process. 

In process....stabilization in 12 months Lessons learned?

I began the renovation process by enlisting the help of a relative and some of his friends to gut the interior.

It’s called TIME VALUE OF MONEY.  

But consulting with the town would be good to try to understand what they're permitting process is like.

I want to preface this by saying I'm an absolute newbie when it comes to real estate investing, but the more books and resources I consume, the more I find myself gravitating towards commercial real estate, specifically hotels!

Well I may not be the most seasoned in the world but my wife and I have established processes that work for us. 

I am currently in the process of identifying land for a purpose-built residential assisted living and memory care facility in Houston, TX.

depending on how backed up the county is it can e take a few months for court date. in essex county it took my mother in law about 8 months or so for the full process. she had an attorney, not sure if that sped anything up