As for your REI potential, You should probably decide where you want to be, and go and get established in your new job.

Commercial tenants can be credit rated tenants with corporate guarantees or the mom and pop type.The mom and pop type carry usually the most risk as a start up.Franchised stores such as Quizno's or a Subway generally there is less failure as the corporations makes sure the operator meets liquidity and certain training requirements.What usually kills mom and pop type businesses is poor planning and making the same mistakes over and over again.This is where a franchise is strong in that with their franchise fees the operator gets national and sometimes local marketing.They also get tried and true processes and systems to follow which greatly reduce them screwing up.With a mom and pop you are going with an unproven startup which if fails has very little to no assets to go after.Sometimes a mom and pop will have multiple locations and be more credible with assets and experience that are less risky tenants.When taking on a retail tenant that is unknown or not well known ask questions about how they will bring in business and their marketing plans.Many start ups believe you open up and people will find you and the business will come flooding in.This is absolutely untrue.I remember Papa Johns pizza back when I was working as a stockboy at Wal-mart as a teenager.

Using a HML rather than a CC will get terms established on your purchase and make it easier to refi.

By using "guru speak" in your post you have lost any credibility you might have had with me, and I suspect with any of the other, experienced, successful regulars on BP.

An established foundation company should use a 3rd party engineer and if so you need to check them out as well.

If you choose the right one, they’ll know lenders and can add credibility you don’t yet possess.

So just establish a rate of return you want, and go from there, don't pay attention to how much of the price you get in rent.

You obviously have been involved in the real estate business before, so you know the process.As for your credit, the best thing would probably be for you to go to a credit counselor and figure out how best to proceed in re-establishing credit.

Most REI have no clue how to establish my criteria for bidding don't kid yourself or live in a dream world!

Be prompt with your responses, fair with maintenance, and firm with the rules established in the lease.