@Bryan GrissumWould like to preface this by saying I'm an amateur myself (bought my first triplex in Aug '15 and a single family home recently), but since you didn't get a whole lot of responses I figured I would weigh in.

There are a lot of amateurs chasing the profits of their peers right now.Andrew Johnson's comment holds true, what I saw in 2008-2012, a lot of people that should have been buying like crazy were scared to do so.

But I can't imagine how it pencils out if you're an amateur one-time developer.  

First most agents are part time amateurs and the few good ones are usually busy with their residential business and higher price points. 

Thanks for the post J.Martin so that amateurs like myself can see how far we have to go on the real estate learning curve.

Totally amateur hand made sign so I thought I had a good lead on a FSBO. 

Forgive me if there are some stupid questions or amateur assumptions here.

He is now beginning to demand he gets paid for all his work, which is below amateur level, at a contractor rate he pulled outta his rear.

Depending upon their size, they are often managed by amateurs (the owners). 

Background:  I'm 35, NYS Real Estate Salesperson, Accounts Payable Specialist at a local power plant (scheduled to decommission in 2018) , and Amateur flipper.