Usually there is some kind of gentrification or revitalization project going on in the area that turns it from one of economic weakness and population decline, to one where money is flowing in and the population is increasing. 

One of my partners uses quick books for accounting, and I would say that the counting side of Cozy is weak.

Hey @Bill Webster thanks for being transparent and helping to challenge us to improve where we're weak man.

If I hadn't, she would have had to beg on the streets of a foreign country for food and medicine for her chronic conditions, or get an illegal job.

I've always masked my quitting spirit as "curiosity" but have realized it's just me being weak when the going gets tough. 16 years ago sitting in an apartment in Roswell, Ga I bought "Real Estate for Dummies", cracked it open, read a few chapters and put it down.

Personally went this route and it has paid me dividends on my own deals knowing what my strengths and weaknesses are in the labor department.

A fantastic deal in a weak neighborhood can still l make you good money. 

Is he paying top dollar in weak markets in order to generate deal flow (to which he then syndicates his entire equity component)?

Applied psychology, networking, salesmanship are important things that do not come naturally to most engineers.The above are generalizations and your milage may vary, but being able to spot your strengths and weaknesses is a good step in the right direction.

One other thing: if there is any weakness in your personal relationship (marriage, union, live-in, whatever), this endeavor will expose it big-time.