This can be REALLY expensiveI prioritize layout and functionality, along with the most important factor: location.In the Philadelphia area, I’m consistently seeing better rental performance in the outskirts and surrounding counties compared to the city itself.When analyzing a deal—especially in a hot area—it’s important to understand the potential of the property, not just what it’s producing today.

Office and Retail is a Covid part 2, economic downturn are the big ones.The biggest “oh crap” risks in retail and office are concentrated in a few themes: tenant fragility, functional/locational obsolescence, capex time bombs, and capital markets risk that can nuke your business plan even if NOI looks fine on paper.5.Crexi, Brokers and Commercial Deal Finders- which go out and secure seller financed deals on properties.6.Commonly 5–10 years for permanent bank or CMBS debt, with overall ranges roughly 5–20 years depending on lender and product.

As an investor, I always come back to ROI and function.

In our Co Investing Club, we invest together and collectively vet each deal, which could give you a transparent look at how group decision making, structure, and communication should function.

RTR has thousands of forum reviews on BP if you use the search function. 

It's true that there is functionality in there which gives you more - access to records, owner details, detailed history etc, but really honestly for most investors, using zillow/redfin and working with a great agent is going to all you need.

Connected intercom: I use a connected intercom system that needs internet in order to function properly, so I provide that through my landlord internet connection.

Once you have a short list, get an account with each one and run them through the wringer to see how they really function.

@Nick CoplandHi Nick,I'll preface this with the fact that I am a long-term rental guy.. not Mid Term... but most still applies....I think the answer to your question is a function of your abilities and availability.

Buy a functional but very dated "estate" type property do a mostly cosmetic rehab and resell.