One thing I did was to attend just to observe the process.

Employee versus contractor is a complicated topic and must be observed very carefully.

That number was not based on any itemized budgeting of any sort, just a general observation that in our portfolio, higher rents mean more sqft and usually more bathrooms.Although I'd like to sit down and itemize, each property has its own unique things to it and I feel like I'd be more-or-less guessing anyways.  

In allot of places what I am observing is the the real estate market is on a come back.

(Some deals fall through) That is approximately what you are trying to accomplish.My biggest observation is this.... to do a deal a week, you need to put two under contract at minimum unless your qualification skills are high, and your pricing, as well as selling skills are above average.If on the other hand, you are a newer investor, who has been having trouble "attempting" this... then I would believe that you probably haven't done that kind of volume.  

Independent appraisers hired by banks and review appraisers hired by bank auditors or bank over-sight agencies reconcile actual observed construction features with assessment and building department records.You mentioned that your Realtor has found recent sales for you to use as support for lowering your assessment on appeal.

I Have been interested REI since childhood but it is only this year that I am able to actually jump in and make my first purchase after some preparation Which I know won’t be enough, like taking an expensive coaching course, podcasts watching, lots of reading, much of it on this forum but just as an observer, deciding what strategy suits me best and paying off my home to use it equity as capital.The strategy I decided to adopt is to buy and hold modest single family homes purchased for $30,000 or less.I know that distance is an additional challenge I am going to confront, but with the help of one of my daughters willing to be active on the field along with solid property management I am going to get it started.I am unable to attend any REIA meetings so I will rely heavily on education available in this community as I have seen it to be very solid and supportive.

I picked up some of his techniques by observing others, but I never knew there was a book filled with other ones!

Have you found this in your personal experience flipping properties or rather observed it in the broader local market? 

But chasing listings, rather than working with buyers, is one reason many new agents fail to make it more than a year.Another observation - buy and hold investors are great buyers to work with.