I think it's also important to mention here that Boston, and other larger metropolises, deploy a tenant oriented brokerage fee meaning that the renter actually pays, not the owner, so in spite of the service being virtually free, you do not see the value in having someone represent you and executing on the rental of this unit. 

I can say that the syndication has allowed for us to do more deals every year, and larger deals.  

Larger buyers pool a exit. 

The down payment may be larger, but that reduces the amount of the principle and interest anyway. 

Only the people who don't care about the pool and basketball court and dog park or will take $X0 less a month for not having it want the fourplex. 

Mow your own lawn, change your oil, iron your shirts, bathe your dogs. 

Depending on the size of property you are looking for, you might also try partnering with someone who has a track record with larger properties.

A 'fully trained' pet I'd be worried about is a dog, since when they are untrained they have the potential to use the bathroom all over the house.

On a larger park, I would recommend a formal cost segregation study for this, but an 8 unit park is too small for that to make sense, so you can also assign a value in the bill of sale to include:Landscaping shrubbery & trees: 35 mature trees approx. 20’ tall each, pool equipment, roads: XXX square yards of asphalt paving, sidewalk and curbing, electrical pedestals, concrete pads, underground utilities for electric, sewer or septic, pool, clubhouse, etc. 

Here are a couple takeaways I have- I wasn't able to see the condition of the walls, there was an ugly stamping that required all the walls to be re-drywalled- There was a dip in the floor that I could not see, this required to jack up the floor- The bedrooms were really small, the pictures made them appear larger in size.Overall, would I do it again, probably not.