Competing with Experienced ProfessionalsNew agents may feel overwhelmed by more established competitors in the industry.Solution: Focus on your unique strengths, provide excellent customer service, and embrace modern technology to differentiate yourself.The challenges of being a new realtor or investor are real, but they’re not insurmountable.

When evaluating a property management company, it's important to look beyond just the management fee and consider the full scope of services and costs involved.For example, at our company, we charge a 10% monthly management fee, a $250 lease renewal fee (unless it’s a takeover tenant, which requires additional effort to establish a strong relationship - because usually people are changing pm companies for a reason), and the first month’s rent as a leasing fee.

Both @Nathan Gesner and @Lauren Stark have provided valuable insights on this.One potential path for you is to join an established team to gain experience.

Whichever method of lead generation you decide on, aim to establish and maintain a relationship with prospective sellers. 

If it's in the restricted zone (within 31 miles of the coast or 62 miles from an international border, you have the choice between using a bank trust and paying the fees mentioned above or using a Mexican corporation and bearing the costs of establishing and maintaining  the corporation.

I'd rather take a lower cap on something established, versus a higher cap on some new chain.    

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

That gives you time to get organized and established for more conventional financing. 

The reason I ask is that knowing the fast movers of the area may help you choose your project.Lastly, what kind of renovation budget have you established, and is it an upfront budget, or will you be contributing to it over the time that you live in the property and renovate it?