The more I study real estate, the more I feel that my architecture degree isn't helping me much, I'm not being taught to sell, negotiate, read/understand contracts, understand clients or anything much beyond the actual design of architecture. 

There are a couple sections of the neighborhood I recommend my clients stay away from (unless they get a solid discount), but overall its good.

I know it is possible but have never been involved in one with my clients. 

Here's a tool that might help: http://www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspxI use it frequently to run 'what if' comparisons for my clients.

Let me know if you or any of your clients have questions regarding commercial real estate finance.

Not sure how to recognize if something is a deal or not.

You may want to reach out to a CPA that works with clients remotely.

I have also had them where I stopped over before every showing and grabbed the dog, put it in my car and then followed the potential buyers and their agent through the house like a hawk (That's what the client wanted).

What I wrote above does not create an attorney/client relationship between us.

I'm a Real Estate Investor who has worked with many investor clients in the region.