You could put in a range of numbers for purchase price and closing costs, renovation expenses, and expected returns and you could very quickly get a range of projected return on investments (although an excel spreadsheet could easily do this as well), but I'm sure as technology develops we will see even more sophistication in AI's ability to assist in deal analyzing.

My question is - if he has developed a "good" software (allegedly) and has a system in place, why would he pay $10k for people to find him deals using his platform and system if he could just pay an employee to find him deals?

So they started doing the loans that everyone else turned down, ultra high risk development deals, second mortgages, land loans at ridiculously high LTV, loans where the borrower has none of his own capital invested, 85% of AFTER stabilized value loans.  

He's also the developer and this is the first house in Phase II of this development.

Plan is to develop and sell the homes.

Development is a fun and frustrating venture, but Real Estate is still a good place to find a win.  

Many developers leave the tubs without even a hanging rod which looks incomplete.

You have relationship infrastructure and knowledge that took a very long time to develop.  

Right now, land (unless in a hot market) takes a special type of buyer/developer to turn it into money, so you're better off finding the thing the people with the money want. land tends to sit a long time...

I think there needs to be a change in leadership and a pro-development or up-zoning attitude.