I plan to check them out although I don't think they can be competitive for lending against equity vs alternatives like IBKR.I will keep this thread posted as we navigate this in case others are interested.

I would look for a custodian who does not charge a fee based on your assets.I normally see the costs being A one time set-up fee along with an annual reoccuring fee.The thing you want when opening up an SDIRA is that the return that you will make with alternative investments will be greater than the fee that is charged to you for the SDIRA plus the return you would have likely gotten with a regular IRA.

That made me loose faith in any alternative education programs.

They were willing to look past crypto when it was small, but the bigger it gets, the more attention it attracts. 

MTR arbitrage may allow an owner less hassle and equal profit from their unit compared to the other available alternative of LTR.3.

I had a few houses that lost about 30k in equity overnight in the area (had been considering selling to do a 1031 into some new builds, but that turned into a less attractive idea after the equity drop).

Long-term investment should cover income shortfalls and consider alternative markets outside San Francisco or affordable markets like Texas, Ohio, or Arizona.

I don't particularly like FB marketplace, either...I just keep using it because it's worked better for me than the alternatives... 

Alternatives include Stessa (free) and Buildium (more robust, pricier).For testing, a phased approach is generally best.

I understand the challenges and competition in this field and am willing to put in the time and effort to learn and grow.If you have any advice on how someone in my position could gain practical experience or alternative ways to get started in real estate without significant initial capital, I’d be eager to hear your thoughts.Thank you for your time!