I don't mean to be disrespectful, however if you carry your 'I know for a fact' attitude into the bank, you have probably not compelled the right people to want to help you.Since people want to do budiness with people they know and like, if you are an unknown quantity from an unknown source, you're just another smart person who knows the language of money. 

As far as I know all properties are rent controlled regardless of the quantity.

I see this as ( at least for me) if I was going to buy those I would have to be creating a business out of it and be buying them in large quantities each month..

Has anyone seen a broker give a discounted flat rate since I would have a large quantity of rental listings?

You have people across the river in Cohoes paying obscene amts in rent (Harmony Lofts) after all...

Quality over quantity in this case.2.

As you mentioned, quantity is the answer.  

Appreciation is dependent upon ongoing demand, which is a function of population growth and sustained job quantity and quality.• Located in an area with investor friendly taxes and legislation - Taxes include both state income tax and property tax.

One of the things that I'm struggling with is getting a sense of the quantity of housing supply that's available in the area to students who live off campus.

@Lucero Sanchez You can take your plans to a lumber yard and they'll be able to do what they refer to as a "takeoff" to get the quantities of lumber you need to buy.