Thanks for the feedback; some quick stats: 9 doors across 4 states, about 50% LTV ratio with a Net Income of about 17% and cash on cash of about 3%.....in fairness those numbers include some overall business expenses not tied directly to one specific property.

Admittedly, I am not one that typically finds paid mentorship very valuable, but I also respect that my degree is in business with a focus on real estate, and my first job out of college was in real estate (so it is a little hard for me to take my 20 yrs of knowledge and rewind it to try to view mentors from a completely fresh lens).A couple points: I view mentors, especially these expensive ones as a catch-22. 

If you are using STR, REPS, or self rental with material participation to convert to active or nonpassive income, you do not have to do this if you have passive business invesment that produce passive income that will exceed the loss generated by depreciation.

Type Line Item Fee Fixed Fee Collected Rents 10% of All Collected Rents New Tenant Search & Onboarding $600 Variable Fees Business Hour Service Calls $90/hour + Materials Cost + Tax After Hour Service Calls $120/hour + Materials Cost + Tax 3rd Party Coordination HVAC Cleaning & InspectionGutter CleaningSpring/Fall Exterior CleanupSeasonal Mowing & Weed TrimmingSeasonal Snow PlowingGeneral Contractor Negotiated Vendor Cost + 10% Oversight Fee  

It works in the Central Business Districts of other global metropolitan cities with busy CBDs.

And while I agree that debt is often the cheapest form of capital, if you are looking at a project that involves some form of value-add business plan, you can always refi either when rates come down or you have increased the yield on the asset to exceed your interest rate.But like Stuart noted, for many groups, even the most seasoned syndicators, raising call cash for their deals is effectively impossible.  

Are you open to working with contractors, or do you stick with established businesses only?

I would be leveraging my relationship with my family member to wholesale the property for experience and getting them for investment in my real estate business while my family member gets rid of a property, hassle free, while getting paid.

Binghamton is starting to see new business coming in too.Where I live Ithaca, NY prices are going through the roof.  

Ultimately responsibly using leverage (both equity and debt), implementing systems and buying good assets with realizable equity  is how you scale while operating a sustainable real estate business.