This is coming from someone to stepped out of W2 in their early/mid 30s, and I can tell you first hand it's not cheap and anybody that tries this really does not understand the reality of it.To your other questions, cash flow is just a mechanism of leverage nothing less or more.

I know that me gaining access was totally an exception, there's no way they all did, if any.

How do you know where to look for this stuff appropriately without looking like a total newbie? 

Simultaneously, if this vacancy is a high percentage of the buildings total SF, I would market the property for sale to an owner-user who may be able to fill the vacancy at preferred rates while gaining investment income off the other tenants.

do this just a handful of times and by the time you're 30, you'll have a larger portfolio of rental properties than the vast majority of people.hope this helps.

I do have a portfolio loan that encumbers several SFRs, so that is a possibility…one origination fee, a bunch of appraisals and a new mortgage over a handful of properties.  

They will sell you a t year, all inclusive, no deductible, extended warranty (6 years total) for 10% of the price you pay.

just curious) - Flat fee for advice or a small profit cut (5–10%) if she’s hands-on.

I only did a regular inspection and since I wasn't in town during it, I wasn't able to see first hand what was referenced in the report. 

For loan balances under $200k, you are better off going DSCR with a 5 year prepayment penalty and paying 2 total points on the loan (1 point is 1% of the loan size).