They just have a bigger reputation and will probably get the most business. 

Welcome to bigger pockets and good luck on your journey!

Other specialized asset classes there are lot's of syndicators just usually not on Bigger Pockets.

So if the difference between current and market rent is truly $500, we would raise rent $250.You don't want to stall out on making progress toward market rent, but we like to keep good tenants a bit below market rent both as a reward and as an incentive to stay since they won't find comparable units if they shop around.

Having said that, life is not all about the money, and as others have said, spending some time and effort to help another person experiencing a tragedy can be as rewarding to you as it is to them.

And as for your #2, you are right, specifically the Bigger pockets podcast, hence why I use their forum to ask questions. 

Bigger Pockets has allowed me to see that in a numbers driven game, there are still lots of great people, you just have to find them.  

Most episodes of bigger pockets mention value adding But often with minimal advice Is there a book , podcast episode , different podcast that can be my guide for the best approach to value adding I’m about to buy my first live in rental property

Some of my money, some financing, father is the GC (which makes the full-gut across the continent not as scary a risk as it sounds).Spent two months wondering why no one would take our money for a house, once we figured out what worked, we suddenly realized we needed to think a little bigger (was doing it all my cash, now I'm good with some leverage).I've got a nice w2 that I'd love to dump for half the salary, if I could generate it, but I'm thinking that might be many years from now.Anyways, I'm heading to Atlanta Wednesday morning through Sunday morning. 

Feel free to ask any questions in the bigger pockets community!