Depending on the owner's situation and using a variety of negotiating tactics, my business partner and I have been able to get significant discounts while buying properties from those owners directly. 

It's a hyperlocal business. 

So for now I would say my goals in REI are to learn as much as possible, build my net worth, and put myself in a position where I can decide whether this would be a viable business for me to focus my efforts in.

But, you can do that in every other business. 

This method evaluates the business through taking the income minus the expenses and then dividing the NOI by the trading cap rate.

Which in turn will bring plenty of other investors and general business to the market.

You're going to learn a lot just by being around the business.

You'll love it here and find many things to keep yourself busy with.

I'm currently going to school, working full time, and have a business going.

We sold at a profit though and the new folks have it as an airbnb with all our stuff in it :)  If we had to pay a manager we would have been losing money.. and to self manage like i said I am just too busy to deal with these there is simply better money for me in other avenues..