You've come to the right place for advice and industry information. 

I know this side of the industry well and I'm aware that many companies are charging upwards of 7% for the same exact product.  

You wouldn't want to buy into an area that is declining rapidly where the tenant quality is decreasing along with the area.Bureau of Labor Statistics: Current Employment Statistics (CES)The Current Employment Statistics (CES) program produces detailed industry estimates of employment, hours, and earnings of workers on payrolls every month.

So while I’m new to the industry, I think I’ve got the right systems in place to sustain my new real estate ambitions. 

There are many lenders that will fund 100% of the rehab with up to 90% of the purchase price without JV. 12% is not reasonable and 4 points are definitely not industry standard. 

I have been employed in the service industry and have done freelance work the past two years.

My guess is that some of the movers and shakers in the industry are going to decide to leave NAR and go to those statewide MLS systems.

I am Navy submarine veteran currently working in the information management industry.

I thought I wanted to go into commercial real estate for a few years after college in order to gain some broad experience and skills within the industry, as well as gaining capital for future investments which is my ultimate goal.

As someone who has always had a passion for real estate, I started off in property management and have been in this industry for three years just to get my feet wet and gain some experience.