Buy your flips with soft created Paper secured by a flip you’d like to keep.  

Sounds like this is a private money lender or a hard money lender.If you are getting funds from another source and relying on that to close, you should not put in the purchase agreement that you are buying with cash.

I’m currently working towards getting my real estate license with a focus on helping investors buy 2-3 properties a month.

Since you're 6-12 months away from buying, use this time to build investor relationships, master deal analysis, and secure financing.

With that being said, I also feel like I have A LOT to learn still, but eager to start the process of buying my first rental property!

From what I’ve seen in Bloomberg, it also doesn’t hurt to keep tabs on any shifts in local buying trends.One more thing I’d consider is the exit strategy.

If you sold this property would you buy something in Arizona or would you continue to look for properties out of state? 

If you're in a high-cost area, consider out-of-state markets where you could buy a rental property outright. 

I buy, add value, and build from the ground up.You are retired, and based on your picture, you are not old.

Investment Info:Small multi-family (2-4 units) buy & hold investment in Bronx.