Is the electrical service up to date, roof good to go, mechanical (boiler/furnace) systems alright...

There's no sellers disclosure, appears moderate amount of structural/mechanical work, additionally- minor cosmetic; asset manager rejecting lower offers- only basing property on better condition comps in the area, raising the list price to amount well above any thought of making a profit in a few months.

CapEx & Repairs really depends on the state of the building, you might have to budget more than that depending on the status of the capital items, mechanicals, level of wear & tear by tenants.

I have come to the point in my real estate investing career where I know in order for me to continue to grow, I really need to put a much greater emphasis on networking.  

There is no such thing as a 1031 exchange mechanism.

Ask if they updated anything, mechanical, roofing, wiring. what rents can be expected - will you be able to see leases. what are current expenses - water/sewer, taxes, garbage, electric, gas / oil, insurance. whats there usual vacancy rate ( just because it's next to a campus does not mean it's a gold mine). check if there is plenty of parking, are there laundry machines there 9 coin / card) how old are they, Appliance ages. any pest control/ termites have to be taken care of. whats the law on how many students can be in one dwelling ( normal is 4 but i have read on this board that some areas only allow 3) - that will make a difference in your incomeyou do not want to buy the place not knowing that the appliances and roof are 15+ years old and all sudden have to fix/ buy all new.

These portals have all of the legal and technology built out so you have a turn-key mechanism to raise from family, friends and extended networks.

That is guru stuff to sell systems or programs, not selling or buying real estate.Think of RE investing or business as an art and science, not a mechanical process so much.

A friend of mine is a (now retired) master home inspector, and he was instrumental in helping me make good decisions about acquiring distressed properties when I started out.Pros: The structural/mechanical knowledge a home inspector has is very valuable, and could translate well in a GC role when doing rehabs.

Both have always put a lot of emphasis on "you can't get rich if you don't have a profession".