I would think you'd be better off getting your real estate license and becoming an agent - but that path also has a high failure rate.

Would love to hear some success stories and failures as well if anyone is open to sharing. 

You are setting yourself up for failure from day 1.

The mistakes feature most prominently as the pain of failure and not making money lingers on for a long time while the successes fade pretty quickly.As to deal analysis I would have to say that as real estate appraiser - MAI candidate (member Appraisal Institute Candidate member - the course work and experience of appraising lots of types of commercial and residential property over 10 years or so gave me a solid understanding or how to look at various properties by the numbers. 

Typically you need 40 or more to have enough money and work to hire a full time PM and part time maintenance person.A few meetings you might want to attend to hear about some failures and successes of investing in MF coming up. 

Most lenders max out around 90% of property value they will lend on - less existing loans.You've tasted early success, but you've yet to deal with a challenge or failure. 

Track patterns, not one-offs .Maintenance triageLife-safety and habitability = immediate.Nuisance items batched into one visit to save trip fees; set boundaries for light bulbs, loose handles, squeaky doors .HVAC filters and tune-ups on cadence with photo proof; replace only when failure or at turn unless risk dictates .Turn standardScope template: paint touch-up, flooring repair, caulk, deep clean, locks rekey, curb appeal.Do big upgrades at vacancy, not with tenants in place, unless safety or leakage forces it .PM accountabilityExpectations doc: response times, approval limits, photo receipts, monthly owner update.Calendar check-ins: delinquency on the 6th, vacancy every Friday, turns twice weekly until listed .Biggest time sinks and how to cut themBack-and-forth on minor work orders: batch and set thresholds; teach PM what’s urgent vs optional .Chasing updates: standardize touchpoints and require proof-in-photos for work done .Overpricing vacancies: use ranges, listen to PM’s on-the-ground read, and choose speed over squeezing the last bit on your first units .Quick wins when inquiries slowPhoto order: lead with the best exterior at golden hour, then kitchen, bath, best room.Price bracket tweak: drop to just under a common search filter and add a move-in credit line in the first sentence.First 5 photos tell the whole story: light, clean, and your three sell points up front.Your next movePick one property.

For those of you who’ve invested in syndications, what sponsor traits have you found to be the biggest predictors of success or failure?

Failure to plan, is planning to fail. 

We haven't responded yet.And before anyone asks: There are VERY clear lease terms around the security deposit, ex: "In the event of forfeiture of the security deposit due to Lessee's failure to fully and faithfully perform all of the terms and conditions of this lease, Lessor retains all of his other rights and remedies" ; "Deductions will be made from the security deposit to reimburse Lessor for the cost of repairing any damage to the premises or equipment or the cost of replacing any of the articles or equipment that may be damaged beyond repair, lost or missing at the termination of this lease"; and "Not withstanding any other provisions expressed or implied herein, it is specifically understood and agreed that the entire security deposit aforesaid shall be automatically forfeited should Lessee vacat or abandon premises before the expiration of this lease"What are our options here?