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.

It’s all about relationships!

Then, I'd consider any sort of small bank or credit union I have a relationship with (target return: 7%). 

Well I guess I shouldn’t say no risk, as you may sour your relationship with the other agent, and they might return the “favor” one day ;) Sounds like a tire-kicker though, I’d probably find the best way to bow out now, unless you’re just looking for a learning experience/deal under your belt/good story to tell at happy hour.

If the existing tenants are indeed "good", and that could mean plenty of things like paying on time or they are just pleasant people, then I'd keep them with periodic rent increases upon lease renewal.Increasing the rent drastically can get you in to trouble and affect your relationship with the existing tenant base.

Try to build up a relationship with them.