Go to real estate meetups and network daily.

I listen to bigger pockets on a daily and have learned a ton from the podcast and from real estate investing books!

Since then, I've read Rich Dad, The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner, lurking daily around BP, and I've started listening to BP podcasts.

I have one here in SoCal though that emails me "deals" daily.

Get involved in the BP Community forums.Say hello to the new members that join daily.

Where is my daily REI hour best spent to help me accelerate my investing?

I am not saying don't pursue these types of properties, just be prepared and realize you will need to be a much more hands on manager and should probably do some monthly or quarterly inspections to see whats going on inside.D class are paper tigers.. there is just no changing the tenant experience unless your literally there daily watching every thing.. even then your going to run much higher expenses that other rentals.. its just how that tenant class lives.. no mystery to it..  

In order to do that I must organize my finances and wondered if anyone had a great excel spreadsheet they can recommend to begin creating and daily & monthly budget with the goal of maximizing my savings to have the funds for a down payment.

I also accept direct messages.What I am looking for in an Agent Ability to set me up with a daily email alert with new listings to the MLS + price adjustmentsAbility to recommend me contractors(roofers, plumbers, electricians, etc)Ability to provide comps for properties that I am interested in.Knowledge about the areaWhat I will provide to the agent I will not ask you to lowball on a bunch of housesI am okay with you sending the listing agent a informal offer to save time from having to draft a full contractYou will get a client who is an experienced investor.

The tea leaves indicate that only the owner of the property will be able to get a licence for STR, with most indications being they must be an owner occupant.