And sometimes, connecting with a mentor can make a world of difference.

I figured that was the case, but I've been just eyeballing the rents I can get via a FF local search and by how quickly I am getting bookings.

Work with what you can control and let go of arbitrary rules. 

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

Keep saving as much as you can.

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

Curious to get some tips from folks that have a larger portfolio (say 50+ units or larger) across multiple MF buildings (so different acquisition dates, financing, etc.) and what software you use?

Of course the listed price may not be the actual rented price, but by tracking several listings for a while you can gain a better understanding of the market.For assessing demand, go to FurnishedFinder.com/stats and you can see demand data for a given city.

Can you sell your currently live in property to your LLC?

A broker can mix and match and find local area loans with discounts, etc.