Any and all advice period? 

You go to a direct lender, and go to a good mortgage broker...and I guarantee the broker gets you a lower rate and lower fees.

But I do think we are entering a period of an economic slowdown. 

Here are some of the liens that survive the foreclosure sale: Government Superior Foreclosure-Liens:IRS-under special circumstances (under 120 day redemption period from deed recording).

I have liquidity from the previous business to invest and hopefully kick start this endeavor.Biggest challenge - I don't know this industry, I am coming from a completely opposite industry in the technology field.What I have, I think, in my favor, are colleagues from the RE industry with experience in both traditional RE sales (agent/buy/sell) but also experience in the REI side (one owning about 70+ properties and the other owning about 25 properties, both using their properties for passive cashflow)With an engineering/analytical background, my greatest fear right now is the unknown and I am trying to shore up that experience through reading and listening to others, but as I have already discovered, its like taking a drink from the fire hose - way more knowledge than I can consume in a short period of time.Questions I would pose to anyone interesting in providing some feedback -- Best way to look for that first opportunity?  

Would a personal guarantee offset risk?

My standard real estate contract in NY here even has a "___-day attorney approval contingency" which is a certain time period that attorneys can approve it even if we signed it on the spot. 

It was a very simple process to get the first loan, but, before I can get another property through them the property needs to be rented for a specific period of time to prove it's worth.

(I think there's a 60 day period for live-in only but am not 100% certain.)They have structured sales and auction sales.  

Having been relo'd a few years ago, my relo company exerted a lot of control over the entire process, which I was OK w/ since they took care of many details, and guaranteed a buyout of my house @ market value if not sold in 3 months.