Same goes with lenders: hop on the phone and figure out who matches your investing strategy the most, the work with them to find out what deals are going to be eligible to their guidelines, and then tweak your buy box with your realtor.

Between technology, the media coverage and the settlement itself, while the vast majority of sales will probably still be on market (MLS itself could have some issues going forward as a result of this settlement) but on the margins there will be an uptick of fsbo, of discount brokerages, again it won’t fundamentally change the majority of transactions but I expect the housing market to get even weirder than it already has been the past few years.

Read "The House Hack Strategy" by Craig Curelop and "Set For Life" by Scott Trench for the fundamentals, then just do it.

Here's a great little book on fundamentals: 'Real Estate, Quick and Easy' by Roy T.

Would attending a real estate school or taking specific courses be beneficial in understanding the fundamentals?

Lenders use this information to evaluate your credit history and estimate the maximum loan amount you could be eligible for.

I study this fundamental question here and come to a conclusion based on a simple distinction between two types of contracts: contracts to produce new goods or to provide services;1 and contracts to convey existing goods or other property.

Looking at the underwriting rules for FHA and CONV investors can only own a certain percentage of the total # of units in order to be eligible for this type of financing.

They will tell you what programs you are eligible for and how much you can buy. 

I do want to highlight that REITs are not eligible for 1031 treatment.