Let's address your questions:Question #1: Setting up an LLC for your real estate rental business is a prudent step for liability protection and organization.

Deborah Saddler, the information that I'm organizing at this time is more based around RE definitions and concepts, as opposed to formulas in Excel.

Stop hanging out with your deadbeat buddies that spend all day drinking, talking sports, and otherwise wasting away.

Focus on building a relationship with the owner and the deal will happen organically

If you walked up to Michael Jordan and said, "I want to learn sports" he would walk away.

Appreciation (forced and organic) 

And also, the majority of people are not that organized.

New investor here.Thinking about end to end pipeline management for finding, closing, rehab, rent, hold/sell deals.What tools are you using to keep your information organized, clean, reportable, etc?

Articles of Organization (depending on the entity you choose), Statement of Authority, Operating Agreement (can be optional), Employer Identification Number (EIN).

When you are organizing your real estate investing endeavors, these up-front expenses must be taken into account.Good luck!