Mainly investors/landlords or home owners?  

My main questions:Should I hire a general contractor to manage the entire renovation, or would it be better to hire specialized contractors for each part of the project (flooring, paint, HVAC, etc.)?

But I am mainly looking to acquire real estate.

The main thing is, taking the training will educate you in the foundational aspects of real estate which only helps you.

The main thing with a non-local lender is they might not fully understand the specific market dynamics of your area, which can sometimes affect appraisals or timelines.However, they might be able to provide lower rates or better terms than local lenders so it is worth looking into.

Exposure - make sure your listing is on all the main booking sites.

This is mainly due to the large amount of inventory and still high prices (though they are trending downwards).

I think the biggest hurdle you are going to have is establishing experience.

My main plan to use real estate for is to eventually generate passive income.

That 2% is a tough hurdle and can still move up.