Like any business venture, you want to have the basics covered.

@Robert Rixer what worries me about MSP is rent control, unfriendly business policies and no real large corporate growth.

NFL, NHL, MLB), relocations, business travelers etc. 

Looking to make a performance metrics dashboard (in excel) to analyze how my real estate investment properties are performing over time.

As our business grew, we started an LLC and transferred the property in.

Is it common to withhold retention from the general contractor payments until lean release is obtained from the sub performing the work?  

I have a business associate that supposedly has a connection into the world of MTN's and he's telling me that there is alot of money in investing in or brokering them for other investors.

sometimes though the ones who are the most experienced and think they know it all are the hardest ones to work with they are too busy to really take the time their buyers need to help through the build process.. so its hard to paint a brush over every agent..

Is it normal to have private money funds get wired to individuals business or personal account since he already has possession of the property? 

Do you want the property in business name/LLC etc?