I'd love to utilize their expertise when assessing a property since they are local but I'm not sure what the general expectation is when I don't have a tangible property and I have not entered into contract to work with them yet.Some questions I have are: local regulations/permitting timeline, property's potential from their perspective, landscaping/amenities cost estimate (they also help facilitate this).

That’s a solid opportunity, but you’ll definitely want the structure nailed down early to avoid tax headaches later.From a tax side, the cleanest option is to form a joint venture LLC where your friend contributes the property and you contribute the construction funds and expertise.

These platforms should also NOT replace the income-generating and lead-generating practices of calls, emails, doorknocking, open houses, follow-up, etc.Instead, you should use these platforms to: document your day-to-day as an agent; feature deals/properties that you/your clients are looking at; share relevant RE or market data; etc.All the best to you as you continue your course & head towards the exam, licensure, etc.Abel

Like any other business, PMCs run from great to bad.The two biggest reasons to hire a PMC:1) Save time2) Expertise

Hey @Zaid Jara, from my experience, the best thing you can do right now is start analyzing deals just for practice.

The biggest thing that will help you early on is surrounding yourself with local expertise—an investor-friendly agent who also owns rentals and works closely with property managers and contractors so you’ve got real boots on the ground guiding you through what to buy and what to avoid.

Need expertise in creative financing and associated documentation. 

This approach lets me participate in bigger deals and diversify across markets while leveraging the expertise of other members, from underwriting to property management, who pick deals apart collaboratively.I completely understand your focus on affordability and community feel in build-to-rent; that aligns with what we often see in larger passive deals too.

Hi Drew,Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of this — I really appreciate the detailed insights and practical advice.

The key to making that work is having local expertise—an investor-friendly agent who also owns rentals and partners closely with property managers and contractors to keep projects and tenants on track.