Is this a standard practice in any DST settlement statements?

This is a practice by some less than reputable companies.

Did he ever tell you what the added costs were.Best practice for ALL added work is for you to request it and request him to provide a price before he does any of the additional work.

Not knowing your situation, but Virtual is practically the same thing as investing in your backyard.

I've always had the impression that what you practice, you'll get good at, and the strategy of 'starting small and building up' is flawed.

In the mastery course you need to take all the practice exams and go over all questions you missed.

The above 4 square method takes time and practice.

Reading this book will literally add zeros to your bank account if you start with this system.I'd also recommend Gary Keller's The Millionaire Real Estate Investor because of the book's practical tips.

I've been looking on sites such as Zillow.com and Realator.com in order to practice analyzing potential rental properties, but I haven't found a property that provides positive cash flow yet (unless I lower the price I would have paid for the home significantly). 

I would say treat it like you're learning a new language where you read a lot and then practice by using it but also by speaking with people who know it to help you become more proficient.