That's encouraging to hear that you were able to build successfully there. 

@Marcos De la CruzRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

A healthy RE investment team includes an efficient and excellent mortgage loan originator.Being dual licensed as a mortgage broker since 2003 has enabled me to identify, align and collaborate with lenders that make a meaningful difference in the investment results of clients and their portfolios. 

"Going to a classroom won't change anything unless the student takes ownership of their learning experience" would be something one of my professors would say and he encouraged us to be lifelong learners emphasizing the idea to continue reading books after college was over for us.

@Christopher TeagueRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

The discount is there to encourage certain people to apply, therefore discourage other people.

I had the same question a year ago because it seemed daunting, but the Bigger Pockets Podcasts and books (such as Short Term Rental Long Term Wealth) encouraged me that I could do it.

Note too that in Wake County, unlike decades past, there is no meaningful "foreclosure discount" (defined as the fact that winning courthouse bid prices were generally (historically) much lower due to the forced sale feature of NC statutes and Deed of Trust Power of Sale clauses) and this is confirmed by a recent Fannie Mae study. 

I’m having a difficult day (few days) and am hoping to hear some words of encouragement from the community that will help convince me that real estate investing is a good idea.

I'd encourage you to keep metrics on everything so that you can see your KPI's evolve over time.