I’m wondering if there’s a strong argument to defer rezoning until absolutely necessary/leaving it up to prospective developers it gets shopped around to.

Afterall, who wants to talk shop just for the fun of it?

So, watch for external obsolescence in an area, good locations near major shopping areas, good schools or near hospitals are usually a plus that will endure with time. :)

Shop around.

Even if you are still shopping, you can still get actuals rather than use a generic ballpark estimate like 50%.

I would not recommend a "one stop shop" for management.

After the/my crash it seemed like everything i read, everywhere I went, the coffee shops, reia meetings, investor luncheons, friends family everyone was talking about the awfulness of the real estate market, and how it is impossible to sell houses in the current market.

Shelter is who most local investors I know use and they were cheaper when price shopping for our REI properties.

Also many hours are spent shopping for food at BJ's or Sams club.Even your "part time" effort will most likely take center stage in your life as you spend more and more of your time away from the things you want to do in retirement.

I haven't shopped the market for rates, but non-recourse is a big deal for us since some SDIRA entity money is in play.