Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of the screen and look for local investors or meetups in your area.

Rentals was not a thought to me in those days I was a land flipper.. had absolutely no interest in being a landlord.. and basically still dont to this day :) yes I have some rentals for tax purposes but not really for wealth building purposes.

I'm building my systems.

Would anyone have a template or example of what they made that they could send me to build mine off of?

The lessons you learned the hard way in 2008 will be invaluable now, and it’s great that you’re aiming to stay small-scale and within your comfort zone of Sacramento, which gives you an advantage of knowledge in that market.Given your experience, I'd say start by focusing on three key areas to build confidence and minimize risks:Budget Control: Over-renovating was one of the big mistakes you mentioned.

You don't need to know everything to get started; you need a foundation to build on, and the rest will come through experience and then refining your education.You can build a basic understanding of investing in 3-6 months.

Running a portfolio well would be like taking on a second job as you build your own systems 

It offers unique advantages like equity building, tax benefits (e.g., deductions and depreciation), and an inflation hedge, as rental income and property values often rise with inflation.

I'm also looking to build a network and connect. 

I went from a W2 job to building a portfolio of 500+ units over the last 5 years by starting small and scaling smart.