Since I am a busy professional, I currently focus on turnkey or properties with minimal upfront repair costs/time. 

I currently own a successful business with no plans to exit for at least 5 more years.

Anyone out there in the same situation but found partners to grow their business. 

They said no since I'm a schedule C, since my business is part of my 1040 return.

I like to preserve my karma and grow my business. 

Depending on the owner's situation and using a variety of negotiating tactics, my business partner and I have been able to get significant discounts while buying properties from those owners directly. 

It's a hyperlocal business. 

So for now I would say my goals in REI are to learn as much as possible, build my net worth, and put myself in a position where I can decide whether this would be a viable business for me to focus my efforts in.

Curious - please elaborate.Unless the major businesses in the DFW fold and collapse, I would be interested in hearing why you feel DFW, independent to any other Metroplex would 'decline significantly'. thank you in advance for your candor.

This method evaluates the business through taking the income minus the expenses and then dividing the NOI by the trading cap rate.