I am terrible at understanding ROI. In my bottom-line thinking, there's either profit or there is not. Assuming I'm using my own funds, I understnd there's ROI when I buy and sell, but how do I figure ROI when I add...

It's a bit of a trade off, isn't it?

One recommendation that I got which has been very helpful when looking for people in a particular trade is to call the materials suppliers to ask for the names of a few people they would recommend.

But if you compute the payment based on 60 semi-annual payments, then divide by six, the payment is slightly higher, not less.

I guess that image isn't showing up on other computers, although I can see it on mine.

I'd trade some cash flow for a chunk of cash if wanting to acquire more units.

Cap rate is typically computed with NOI, before financing is taken into account2) In computing Cap Rate, you are diving the income by the cash investment, when it's typically calculated by diving NOI by the purchase price, or sometimes value of the property.

That may be an appropriate trade off for you and your situation.

When close to closing - they go buy a new car - computer - or other doodad so their commission has already been spent before the deal closes. 99.9% do not even invest anything into real estate themselves.

Those are both mechanical issues, and, IMO are dedicated trades.