As they put their own money into the deals, and need to maintain their reputation with investors, usually only real barn burners are put forward. 

Compare apples to apples(SQ FT, bed/bath, layout, etc). 

Do one task at a time in each app so you can compare apples to apples.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.

The polarized extremist nut jobs on BOTH sides seem to have taken the steering wheel and one is yelling to drive us off a cliff the other yelling to drive straight into it and us sane people are just in the fetal position rocking back and fourth trying to wake up from this damn nightmare that the crazies have broke out the nut-barn and took over......Careful the BP gods will remove your post.  

The other strategy that I would suggest in Saint Louis is mid term rentals near Barnes' campus.

Granted that's apples and oranges, because the new homes are larger and all in the suburbs, but as long as you can buy an existing home for half the price per square foot than a new construction home I would be careful with expecting peak appreciation.

Purchase price: $110,000 Cash invested: $30,000 Hobby Farm On 10 acres2300 sq ft house with 8 out buildings - Large Barn, Animal/hog barn, Mid-size machine shed (2) 25' x 35' / 30' x 50', Large Machine shed 60' x 60', Grainery barn, Entertainment Barn, 3 car garage What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

@Bill Brandt  While technically accurate, your analysis comparing real estate income inside of an IRA to investing personally is an apples to oranges comparison.When an IRA creates gains in the stock market, you are turning capital gains to earned income when you ultimately distribute from the IRA. 

I don't think Pottery Barn stuff is worth the money.

The majority of the course is on-line with a weekly 3 hour instructor lead class at their facility on Barnes Road.I passed my state exam on the first try. :-)Randy