Read this book first - https://www.amazon.com/Every-Landlords-Property-Protection-Guide/dp/1413307000 - before getting into more complicated and expensive measures of protection.Let me know if have questions or want to chat further - I can give you my investor perspective.

It sounds like you are just getting started on your RE journey so I'll point you in a few directions and give you some ideas and some things to think about.Firstly, I'd recommend reading all the books on RE - preferably the ones written more recently as the market has changed drastically over the past few years.

HOpe this helps...Educate Yourself: Read books and listen to podcasts about wholesaling and flipping.Build Your Network: Connect with other investors and mentors in your area.Create a Business Plan: Outline your goals and strategies to stay focused.Take Action: Start making offers and pursuing deals.Stay Persistent: Keep learning and adapting through challenges.Good luck, and enjoy the journey!

If you're re-starting your real estate journey and want to jump back in with detailed content that can help you hone in on what kind of investments you may want to make I have two personal suggestions - I just started the book "Start With Strategy" by Dave Meyer this weekend, and I already wish I had read this right away when I was getting into the idea of real estate.

You'll need to get good at analyzing rehab costs and predicting after-repair value (ARV) to ensure your margins are solid.To get started, immerse yourself in real estate education—read books, listen to podcasts, and use BiggerPockets to connect with experienced investors.

Where do I find someone with whom I can consult on my situation, booking a meeting and just talk?

Best way to start looking into this is checking comps on Airbnb, look for 30 day min listings and see how they're priced, who's booking (by checking reviews), how the best performing MTRs are set up.Start ups costs are very similar to STRs.

However, this is what many real estate books call “phantom cash flow,” which is considered a red flag.

I want to start investing in real estate, and I am going over all these books to see the type of strategy that I am going to follow.

There are so many pitfalls going into business with relatives, there have been books on the topic.