However, there are some investors here who are having a lot of success finding cash-flowing deals through off-market sources. 

I like the sit and wait plan.. no sense burning cash on things that cant get processed now anyway.  

It simplifies the process since Zillow handles credit, income, and background checks for a small fee paid by the applicant.Background Check Services: If you prefer not to use Zillow, consider using services like MySmartMove or RentSpree.

Sounds like you have a pretty poor security system.Even with a good security system, having a tenant provide ID is the first step in a professional screening process. 

#2...not the zoning, although that can be important too, but the actual property code in the Florida statutes about tax liens and the process. 

The resources and books you mentioned, like the BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide and The Book On Rental Property Investing, sound like excellent starting points.Prioritizing financial stability and eliminating debt is crucial, and I agree that a solid financial foundation is key to successful investing.

Best wishes and best of success to you in 2025.

Thanks again and I wish you all a happy and successful real estate year! 

I have been learning how the process works and there are a lot of resources for how to interview a sponsor and review the deal, but how do you initially access the deals to review?

I have read the BRRRR book as well as some other investment books and though I am aware that the author recommends buying properties with all cash, I am still torn between going that route or going with traditional financing instead (or perhaps even a "hybrid" of those two options; saving up to put 40 to even 50% down or more to get higher cash flow and more equity right away, while also being able to forego the waiting process of building up enough capital to invest all-cash in another property again (assuming I don't use a hard-money loan).