Every investor has their own path, and hearing different perspectives will only enrich your journey.Challenges in Real Estate Investing:Finding deals: In competitive markets, it can be tough to find good deals that make sense financially.Capital and financing: Finding funding, especially as a new investor, can sometimes be challenging.Dealing with tenants: Managing rental properties and dealing with tenants can be tricky, especially with issues like late rent or property damage.Market risk: Real estate markets fluctuate, and external factors (like economic shifts or local development projects) can impact property values.I’d be happy to continue the conversation if you want to dive deeper into any of these topics!

Your plan is to “buy out investors over time” then “truly drive down rental prices” and then with the portfolios “income” support “local economic development initiatives.”

I'd rather pay for a platform whose revenue comes from subscription fees because at least they are developing features and functionality for the "right reasons.I've never heard of Digb (what kind of name is that?). 

I'm fairly new to investing and looking to wholesale at first, then develop a portfolio of rental properties in apartments, SFH or both.

And then you can use that information to start to develop your own personal due diligence method: Crowdstreet.com, 1031 Crowdfunding, Akr7, Finresi etc.

While sophistication of your equity partners (private money lenders) will vary between residential and commercial, the principle of raising private capital is the same.You need to develop your own system which allows a constant stream of PML even when you don't need the funds and/or don't have an active deal under contract.For example; I raise private capital by offering free educational workshops for people with self-directed IRAs.

Plan is to develop and sell the homes.

I’ve developed a Comprehensive Investor Report (CIR) for a property in Palm Coast, FL, designed to be transformed into a luxury rental asset while serving as the foundation for a scalable asset management strategy.Here’s a quick snapshot of the deal:Property: Red Birch Lane, Palm Coast, FLCurrent Value: $350,000+Mortgage Balance: $165,000Current Equity: $185,000Investment Required: $177,500 (for luxury upgrades and optimization)Projected Monthly Rent: $4,500 with 2% annual increasesTarget ROI: Full 1.5x ROI for investors achieved in 9 yearsLuxury Features: Smart home automation, designer finishes, professional-grade kitchen appliances, and more.I’ve also structured a capital distribution plan with a waterfall approach:8% Preferred Return for investors.Full Return of Capital to investors before profit splits.Post-ROI, a 20/80 split (Investor/Management) ensures long-term alignment.

I still think developing good relationships with brokers is the best way and will get you the best results quicker than going direct to seller. 

Maybe attend a chamber of commerce meeting and ask around where development will start.