Did you attend educational courses to enhance your real estate knowledge?

I am a new investor so trying to educate myself about the various, creative financing options.

However The barrier to entry in the REI teaching business is very low and a lot of bad players join the game.What you describe led me to come up with Ned's Rule of Gurus.The quality of an REI course is inversely proportional to the price

And, even if he has real estate clients, doing a tax return doesn't really educate one.

Here's how I do my due diligence:1) Portfolio matching: (takes 30 seconds per deal)a) Have an educated opinion on where I think we are in the real estate cycles (financial and physical market cycles)b) Then and only then do I pick the strategies, capital stack, and specialized asset subclasses that make sense for that opinion.

Just know that the majority of those in the 'education segment' of real estate are presenting you their information to make the speaker money... and if you happen to benefit too... that 's great!  

The rental had ratty furniture, a record player prominently featured in the marketing but it had no speakers, missing basics items in the kitchen, lots of drunks in the concrete hallways that reverberated right into the bedroom at 2am, a strong odor of urine outside, and more.We have super hosts in this forum that have hundreds of 5-star reviews and are masters of the craft, but I look at their rentals and see they don't have any artwork on the walls, decor is basic, they do nothing to make the guest feel welcome, etc. 

@Adam M.The cost for a real estate tax accountant will vary based on location, experience, education and other factors, just like any other professional.

@John Friendas Without knowing the expenses and costs associated with it I can’t make an educated judgement.

Focus on affordable markets, build a strong network, and continually educate yourself through books, podcasts, and deal analysis to steadily expand your portfolio.Good luck!