Perhaps if this was an investment in tech or life sciences where there is the possibility of an IPO you can generate this type of return but real estate does not yield these kinds of returns & anyone looking for these types of returns is investing in the wrong asset class. my current project which is about as good as we could do for 90 home project will turn out to be 2X in 3.5 years with return higher as principal came back starting in the first year and continue until built out.. when its all done I guess I might run it through a spread sheet to see what the IRR was.. 8 to 15X  is like you said a leverage stock type deal. not RE development

There's not a lot of science to it. 

What you want to do isn't rocket science - lots of people, from geniuses to knuckleheads, have done it.

This isn’t rocket science or some major time consuming side hustle.

As @Theresa Harris said, the kind of job they do is not necessarily rocket science so finding a new one should be very possible relatively soon.

it's just looking at comps and keeping an eye on the market not rocket science just art with lots of practice 

That's the difference between the BRRRR and Flipping.I'm sure lots of us here play sports, or write fiction, or maybe do some acting, but have you ever met a pro at that trade and gone, wow, I have no idea what I am doing...I was a pretty decent basketball player in my late teens/early 20s. 

It is not rocket science to see where the flips can create great returns versus where the flips generate modest returns.I did a rehab a year ago in a very costly market.  

it is not rocket science, the market with the higher rent growth will always eventually have the higher cash flow over the hold.

That’s the “part art, part science” aspect.