I am far more interested in hearing from one of the "common folk"(like me) who can perhaps share the nitty gritty/nuts and bolts results that they actually achieved. 

It's common for assessed value to lag behind market value.

A straightforward way to structure this would be to have a multimember LLC with 2 types of ownership via common units (LP) and management units (GP).

Looks like you're in a common position. 

As a result, there is a common theme of real estate vs. 401k that pops up quite often.

But I'm just trying to figure out how different factors play into each other and how to come up with common metrics, and learning what to look for to determine what a "good deal" means to me.

A closing 4 days after end of inspection,  is not common.

This is a common theme....so many cities and permanent residents hate STR. 

The common problem here is recent comps in the area.

This is a common beginner mistake.