Check the in person events and meetups in your local area, our online community is full of knowledge and folks willing to share and still nothing replaces the opportunity to interact IRL, you never know who you will meet and where that can take you on your REI journey. 

Is it just based off knowledge from experience/visiting with boots on the ground/from speaking with other investors/realtors?

There is a plethora of knowledge here and some great resources. 

Lots of good knowledgeable folks on here, and good local PDX/VAN people as well.

What signs or knowledge can help someone feel confident at the very beginning?

The second categories are techniques and strategies than CAN and DO work, but the students of the mentor just don’t have the experience, education, knowledge or skill set to make it work for them.  

We are currently paying down most of our bad debt to put us on a better position to buy, and gaining more knowledge in the process.

They'll discuss:Opportunities in their Markets - they aren't as far as you thinkEconomic and demographic data to start your due diligenceGrowth and development plans in their communitiesWhy regional investing is a great strategySpeakersMitzi Taylor is Broker/Owner of EXIT Taylor Real Estate with knowledge and expertise in NWA and SW MO.

If this is something you are trying to unload to free up some capital or time, then it may just be worth figuring how much furniture you have, assigning a cost, then see how long it would take at the normal cashflow for that furniture to pay for itself and start making the new owner money.

I am looking forward to growing my real estate portfolio, expanding my knowledge, and meeting like-minded people.