@Tiffany Ralston Cash on Cash includes the down payment, but I believe it should be isolated and measured on its own.I use the break-even formula. 

I personally prefer to invest my money in my rental property acquisitions/sales business because I get my highest ROI on my dollar there- much higher than when it's invested in passive income... but I'm by no measure retired doing this, I work quite a bit. 

If you can use scissors, a razor  knife and a tape measure without needing a trip to the hospital, you'll do fine on your  own.

Then break down the 5 year, 10 year plan into shorter, measurable, realistic steps. 

I'd recommend you pick up "what every real estate investor needs to know about cash flow...and 36 other key financial measures", by Frank Gallinelli.

One of them is the co-mingling of funds between personal and business accounts and other various accounting measures.

Debt service coverage ratios are usually used on income producing properties to measure the property and its value 

If forced to “legalize” it with permitting, either ask if they have “prescriptive measures” for deck framing you can review and see if it matches, or hire a Str Eng to investigate and draft a plan that matches the deck + any retrofitting they feel is necessary.

They are successful because they take calculated, measured risks.You made sweeping generalizations about BP members.

Much higher cap rates if you use that as a measuring stick on SFR.