I'm not an accountant, but "purchase of a car" and car related expenses would seem to be appropriate if you are (from a time or capital basis) 100% "in the business" and the vehicle is 100% used for business purposes.

I don't  think I can post it in here, but it shows the yield curve changes over time relative to the stock market/economic cycle.

I realize that this is directly related to the fact that you cannot run returns that have to multiply 0 but as someone looking to make their first purchase in ~6 months using zero down on turn-key or light rehab, how are the rest of you running your numbers?

I think we as investors need to encourage each other as many people outside of investment real estate cannot relate.  8 months.....your a patient man.  

I would reimburse them just for the trouble and to keep the peace for a relatively low cost.

Because they haven't gone up 15% in the last few years they remain a good price relative to the rent market.  

You can't hang with the big boys (whomever they are to you, this is a relative term).You can't make the same moves as the big boys, they are evaluating deals and taking into account variables that you don't even know exist.They have tools in there inventory you aren't aware of, they can exit deals easier and with less loss than you and they can turn marginal deals into better ones.Warren Buffett purchased shares of banks during the crisis. 

We have a few rental properties in the Loop and Lincoln Park, and are looking for someone who can fix relatively minor issues (e.g. adjust a door, fix a broken handle) without much supervision and who does a thorough job.

I'm still relatively new to real estate investing and would love to connect. 

Right now you really want to focus on enhancing your human capital ( and college) but along the way, like summers and down time, I would really read all you can on real estate strategies (be it flips or buy and holds) and even think about some hands on work if you have access (relatives in the industry, summer jobs, etc) to an opportunity (even as a laborer on a crew)..