Easy and low cost.Simple for folks to access.

Especially if they gain tax deductions that might be worth as much the income. 

This will lower interest costs and free up future cash flow for reinvestment or reserves.Tax Planning: Work with a CPA to mitigate tax impacts from principal-heavy payments and potential gains.

What education should i gain before purchasing my first rental property?

If you can hold off for 2-3 years to save more and build a solid emergency fund, it may give you greater financial flexibility when you’re ready to buy.If buying now feels too risky, consider renting for a while to gain privacy without the long-term commitment of a mortgage.

Pace provides access to OPM to get started and grow your network and teaches and proiveds access to Rasing private capital to allow you to close more deals as you get your network built. 

This offsets your mortgage and builds equity while you gain experience with lower risk.Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): REITs let you invest in real estate without directly managing property.

If you want this to be your business, having access to the most capital at the cheapest rate is a necessity.

In their mind, they just need some local knowledge and access to off-market properties.

I agree with Afra at that price point it's best to start with flips that have $15K - $30K rehab budget to gain some experience and get a good team in place and then work your way up to larger rehabs with higher ARVs!