I understand real estate is local, but are there universal factors investors look for before they even start looking for deals? 

I did it backwards, went to a big 4 year university, then had to go to community college to get a good job and pay off my student loan debt!

Otherwise there is the university of YouTube but I'd hate to have to waste a slab of granite because I didn't know what I was doing. 

They are thinking about remodeling the entire house and filling it with furniture in order to attract university students, and hiring a management company to help with the marketing and management while they continue to live and operate their jobs and business in California.

Colleges and universities are about to face a period of economic turmoil, and unless you can get this property at a steep discount (trusting that student housing will come back) I would likely pass right now. 

I have many out-state and international clients, the word "safely" is so perceptual based upon any 1 clients resources and goals, I don't think there is such a universal thing.Safety is more going to come from the team you tap (PM, Agent, Consultant etc) than any certain market, wins and losses can be had anywhere and everywhere, it's the people that determine the difference. 

@Desmond Fielding University of Minnesota?

I'm not looking for a magic number of what the partnership should be, but I was wondering if you think that it might be a reasonable deal in some universe or either of the two sides is getting ripped off.Thank you and I hope it'll be helpful to any future partner trying to shape their deal!

Hello, I'm in the process of buying a house near a university and I'm debating if I should rent it as a SFH or per room.

But they can also google I went to a prestigious university and my income (job offer letter) was at least 5x the rent.