You brought up some legitimate downsides to crowdfunding (it takes time to vet the deals, and that there is in the marketplace online that has experienced a full real estate cycle and a downturn yet).

It would be a long term play for me...building in a highly desirable and rapidly growing area.

Play it that way

It also allows them to you rent online for free as well.

The real play is to find a high quality tenant for the store-front.

The cost is $295 and if they don't reduce your taxes by more than $295, you get back the difference (i.e. there's 0 risk for hiring them and only upside).Seems like a win/win proposition and reviews online look solid.

I have been searching online for some ideas for covering cinder block walls, mostly to help insulate better.

I am thinking of purchasing a duplex or triplex here in Montreal with around a 40-50% deposit, with the intention of holding onto it until I achieve 100% equity - then possibly resell and make a bigger play with the capital.

Commercial loans are a fact of life if you play in this space. 

State law requires your LLC to register with this agency upon formation for state tax purposes if your LLC will have employees, will sell goods, or will collect sales tax.[25] You can do this online using the Department of Revenue's website."