For example, there is a large national retail lender that advertises heavily (and I am sure will have a super bowl ad later today) who regularly  will show unsophisticated buyers a great rate but then when the LE comes there are 2-3 points (which is just pre-paid interest) and high fees.

We've pivoted heavily to a lot of creative financing strategies like: seller financing in first lien position, seller financing in second lien position, seller coming back in as our equity investor, loan assumptions, installment contracts and more. 

My husband and I have relied pretty heavily on "back of the napkin math" for analyzing our own deals, which worked fine when we're just using our own money, we're very familiar with all the costs involved, and nobody else is involved in the deal so there's just been no need to make it more complicated than that. 

For example, where I invest the city cracks down on building violations somewhat heavily, as well as waste/litter violations.

Be familiar with the tenant laws of the state you are going to, I think WA is one of those states that favors the tenant heavily which can sometimes create headaches with managing!

I am giving up my 3.5% interest rate and not to mention it cashflows, for a multifamily in coastal north county san diego that is heavily negative initially, for the better appreciation of value and rent in the long term. 

I follow the spending advice in Set For Life and How To Invest In Real Estate, which is (paraphrased heavily by me) as follows: Don't forgo spending money on things that you really want, just know the costs.

I was following along happily here until @Ivory Hayes idea of finding seller financing was dismissed completely and you can't wait 12 little months to refi.    12 months in the long game or real estate is a blip.If you are buying a commercial asset like a 5+ unit apt building, the financials of the asset will count more heavily towards qualifying.  

The most successful places have heavily themed rooms and the like.

The Orlando Disney market is heavily saturated in the smaller size properties (4 bedrooms or less) rented on Airbnb.