Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

They might have insights on specific zip codes or pitfalls to avoid. https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521

Here in NY if I wrote a cash for keys agreement, it would have to be filed in specific legal places with certain documents and notarized. 

I do not have a specific credit score requirement.

These can be great for making initial connections and learning about specific markets.Since you're thinking long-term, consider spending some time in your target markets to build relationships with agents, property managers, and contractors.

.* Receipts and Expenses: Once I brought to Jenny's attention that we were 20k above budget, she refused for days to give me the receipts, saying that I needed to give her my credit card statement first.

I'm new to real estate investing and looking to connect with local investor.Thank youWhat are specific goals? 

Hopefully those that stayed on the sideline until the 'time is right' will start underwriting specific deals and recognizing path of progress opportunities that offer multiple operational and exit strategies.  

I will not comment as to the tax laws and underlying rules - that is a discussion you can have with your tax advisor who presumably you are paying to help you.What I will do is provide practical and business guidance on tracking time.Firstly, there are apps available that can assist with time tracking where you can specifically detail your time, who you met with, etc.

The best way to do this is to renovate a unit or two to the specifications to bring it up to market.