All of these factors/considerations impact each other to some extent and its impossible to know whats possible until everyone in the group is clear on what they need/want this to look like.Either it sounds like you're on the right path with the line of questioning. 

And in part, it depends on the investors and capital that you have access to (this tends to play a factor in many decisions when raising outside capital).If you do want to go the fund route, you might want to consider using Avestor. 

Our pro forma for the self storage property we built was rock solid until we opened the business and a year later I was facing losing everything because of all sorts of factors beyond my control.

So trust is a huge factor here.

Investing in the market that you have knowledge of and the economic factors that support it is necessary. 

@David SamIt depends on a number of factors. 

I have been playing the multifamily game for almost 10 years now, and the GRM is one of my least favorite methods personally since it ignores so many important factors (steam boiler versus electric baseboard heat as an example). 

what factors should I be looking at when making this decision.  

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

Nonetheless, I am not out to impugn anyone's intentions and I do understand (as Jay rightfully points out) that the self-employed (my situation for the past 20 years) especially run into times in their lives when conventional lending sources are of no use due to limited reportable income and other factors (such as when, for example, you retire in your 50's and begin to live off of your lines of credit, etc.).