Prioritizing cash flow, mastering property management, and learning basic repairs can make a big difference.

@Amol KulkarniRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Currently, we are targeting multifamily properties of 100+ units, and have been actively engaging with various owners and brokers, submitting Letters of Intent (LOIs) and working to secure deals.While some may consider our approach bold for new investors, we are confident that, with the right team and expertise, we can succeed in achieving our objectives.I’m excited to be part of this community and look forward to learning from your collective experience.

I have a lot to learn on this side until then but am looking at buying a value add multifamily rather than residential.

Lesson learned is to pay more to get into a nicer area (B neighborhood) with more reliable tenants to avoid the vacancy risks, but again, if we can just get the 2nd unit filled we will finally have stable cash flow.

Learning from agents commonly working with investors is your next opportunity to find a mentor.To be honest, I wouldn't try to find a mentor from random investors on the internet.

I'm still relatively new to this, and I’m looking to learn from those with more experience.

That means learning how to vet a manager.

Hey Shiloh, within 20 years of doing this and 3,500 transactions helping investors, I’ve learned that you either do distressed properties or you don’t—there’s no in-between.

The lessons you learned the hard way in 2008 will be invaluable now, and it’s great that you’re aiming to stay small-scale and within your comfort zone of Sacramento, which gives you an advantage of knowledge in that market.Given your experience, I'd say start by focusing on three key areas to build confidence and minimize risks:Budget Control: Over-renovating was one of the big mistakes you mentioned.