With a renovation background, you’re already ahead, as pairing that with underwriting skills is what unlocks BRRRR and small development.

Id recommend getting comfortable with the terms.Some books that are helpful (not totally MF focused)-Confessions of a Real Estate Entreprenuer (Perspective of an investor, how they think, how they take risks and how they learn)-Am I Being Too Subtle (Mindset, managed risk, opportunity spotting)-Zeckendorf - Autobiography (Relationships, risk taking, deal structure, development)-BP Rental Property InvestingI'd also recommend going to Lowe's, Home Depot, Habitat for Humanity to build your brain around materials, costs, quality and history of materials (even if you're not the one doing the work).Lastly, once you've conceptualized the asset class itself and general understanding of deal structure / operating structure...look into some news articles and trends in MF.

It there a large major infrastructure development somewhere?

If you are far away, you cannot reliably confirm site conditions after a storm, assess whether a vendor actually showed up, or intervene quickly when a situation develops.

Quote from @Hunter Foote: I’m curious to know if there are others in the BP community who have experience with recovery housing as a real estate strategy.I’ve spent the last several years working on the development side of sober living homes, and I’ve found it to be a fascinating intersection of real estate, social impact, and long-term cash flow.

You’re not alone — a lot of investors are feeling the same squeeze right now.From the ground-up / small multifamily side, what we’re seeing is that the “good deals” haven’t disappeared — they’ve just shifted away from traditional acquisitions and more toward development plays.A few trends that stand out:1️⃣ Build-to-Rent Is Filling the GapMany investors are pivoting to duplex and small multifamily construction to create inventory that pencils better long-term.2️⃣ Cost Basis ControlWhen you’re building, you’re locking your basis upfront instead of inheriting someone else’s appreciation plus deferred maintenance.3️⃣ Timeline & Entitlement RiskThe biggest hurdle is navigating plans, permitting, and site feasibility — which is why many investors look for projects that are already moving through that phase.Because of this, we’re seeing increased interest in ready-to-build duplex projects — where lots, plans, and permitting are already in progress — allowing investors to focus on the build and long-term rental strategy rather than starting from raw land.Build-to-rent duplexes have been a strong middle ground lately between single-family and larger multifamily — especially in growth corridors.Always interested in comparing notes with others pursuing duplex or small multifamily ground-up strategies — we’re actively building in SWFL and enjoy sharing insights with others working in similar markets.

If the economics don't work or if you risk getting whipsawed by one owner with scale, no amount of enticement can make a bad investment perform good. agreed.. developments that are 100% rentals unless there is strong controls on the front yards IE HOA type situation. they can look pretty ratty in a few years. 

Love seeing architects make the leap into development and investing — your background in design and construction already gives you a huge edge.

The combination of hands-on mechanical knowledge and real business discipline is something many investors develop much later - if ever.One perspective that may serve you well early: in real estate, technical problems are often easier to solve than financial ones.A building can be “fixable” from a construction standpoint and still be a weak deal if the numbers don’t provide enough margin.

@Jack LanderWhat technique works best for you when finding wholesale deals.