If you had a $3K per month marketing budget, how would you spend it to create a consistent stream of motivated seller leads month after month? 

They tell you nothing since you can't spend or save them. 

In Portland spending 30-60 would be reasonable for a trashed property but you could spend 200k if the area allows a total in of 200 plus the purchase price. 

Also, I bought mine furnished and depending on where yours is located and what sort of demographic you want booking it (budget conscious, luxury, local emphasis, etc.) will have a huge impact on how you much you should plan to spend on furnishings and decor. 

Spend $10,000 in interest, get $2500 back. 

Plan to spend $350k over the next 2 years adding a new office, adding amenities and adding water meters to each unit.

If you like to self learn you don't need to spend much if anything. 

In truth I bet the cash flow is better outside the city, because I spend far less on turning a unit than those in town do, I suspect.

And if not, is it worth spending the $1500 on the course work if you have no intent on becoming an agent?

It gives me the flexibility to do Redfin events while choosing when I spend time working on our investing as well as our blog.