Advice for first rental + paying in cash

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I'm in my 20s and looking to buy a house here in Pittsburgh to be my first rental property. I want to pay in cash and renovate the home for $100k total. Should I disclose before touring that I'm thinking about paying in cash? Would you advise me to have an LLC before purchasing a rental? What are some steps to cover all the bases before purchasing first rental to protect myself and make it as efficient as possible? Lastly, do you think it is more profitable/worth the effort to buy property or wiser to invest in the stock market with the current housing market? Any advice would be appreciated.