It doesn't have to be a CPA per se, but I'd argue that a lot of the potential behind real estate investing boils down to what taxes you pay, what taxes you don't pay, and when in your life you pay them.

Zane,First off if you plan on going SE Self-employed and starting your own company you are going to need to wait (2) years to get a conventional loan.

I was looking for something a bit different and I had always loved SE Asia ever since I was a young backpacker, so I decided to take the plunge and purchase my first 2 bed condo when I was 24.

You can add on a nationwide check but I do not believe this is a real check per se. 

A good broker can communicate between multiple lenders and often times has established relationships within the C-suite levels of multiple lenders that they can make calls on your behalf to "shake some trees" and get things processed not just in a timely manner, but in a manner that is on time based on what you are trying to do.Unfortunately it is not uncommon per se, but knowing where these hang-ups tend to happen and how to time everything based on lenders timelines and processes is where it can be helpful to have 'go to' lenders that you are familiar with, and they are familiar with you to help get things done.Good luck though, happy to help where/if I can.

It helped land him a 6 figure job out of college working for a large family office that builds 200 to 500 unit apartment complexes in the SE US.   

I am also interested in developing properties and building my own rentals, but I expect that won't be possible for several years.Are there any other investors in Idaho (especially SE Idaho) on here?

What you're proposing is the conversion of ordinary income subject to SE taxes into deferred capital gain, OR potential exclusion of the income all-together under IRC Sec 121 if the property is to be your residence.I've seen no reasonable basis for such a position.

- Is there a general estimate proxy that you se for factoring in any closing costs with the lender for the financing, assuming it is not an all cash project?

I experienced this when I lived in SoCal given the wildfire exposure and the SE has also been feeling the pain with all of the hurricane exposure.