There may be an allowance because of your blood relationship.

I am having trouble understanding how the relationship between risk vs return actually plays out in real life because cap rates and valuations seem to vary so widely.

At the end of the day, success in Real Estate comes down to understanding relationships. 1) Your relationship with yourself, which means understanding your goals, strengths/weaknesses, and desired life balance. 2) Your relationship with other professionals.

Of course that is easier said than done, because that requires a business relationship and finding the right people you want and can work with is tough - lol - which is why people hire property managers!!!

No, not unless she and the buyer are contractually bound, which then means the business relationship has been papered properly and she is allowed to negotiate on behalf of and represent the buyer. 

Insurance, utilities, management fees, the cost to turn, how long it takes to turn, the cost to advertise, which ads work, foot traffic, closing ratios, trailing 12 months of operation, and then you need to know and have relationships with the top 3 controlling brokers in the market to find the best apartment stock within.Look, I am not trying to scare you here, but there are so many courses out there suggesting real estate is easy when, in truth, there is a lot to know.

I am looking to build relationships in the real estate community, establish networks and learn from those that have gone ahead of me. 

It all depends on making a longterm relationship and working with them.

This property took about 2 months of continuous follow-up and relationship rapport building before we got it under contract.

This property took about 2 months of continuous follow-up and relationship rapport building before we got it under contract.