If I wish to continue adding properties/units, I have to make some choices. 1.

Go to Etsy and search for "rental property tracker," and you will find hundreds of nice spreadsheets to track 10-20 rentals, usually for under $10.Software has extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button, and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports.

You can research these online.

The Midwest seem to be a popular choice in the chat along some areas of Texas are also good to consider for example, Austin or Dallas-Fort Worth.

Check online reviews and interview multiple contractors to compare bids.

I wouldn't say you're going to learn as much going through an online course as you would an in-person one, but it is a lot more convenient. 

For BP readers in NC (or other trustee states), get to know the trustees that operate in your county of choice, then periodically look for upcoming sales.

Obviously, using the online listing page at ALE solutions is different than a cold email, and I am referring to the latter.That brings up an obvious question: how do you develop those leads, then?

It's challenging to distinguish between genuine advice and potential scams in the vast sea of information available online.

There's a bunch of online courses available, look for the ones that offer the self-paced $100-$150 courses.