I mean, is it as simple as finding a few recent sales within a few miles on zillow or is it as complicated as finding a commercial RE agent who I'd have to pay to give me a CMA?

Passport It's a pretty simple loan.

It seems like a simple thing, but reaching out in BiggerPockets about getting started as a real estate investor is a great first step.

Plus, keeping things as simple as possible is always a win!

Just a simple 499 sq ft city approved plan, single story, 1 bed/1bath/full kitchen adu with living space.

Costs for a CPA may range from $800–$1,500 annually, reflecting the added complexity of self-employment and rental property filings.While DIY tax filing can work for simple W-2 income, rental properties, LLCs, and self-employment income introduce complexities that make a CPA valuable.

Just have one LLC for all your properties for the most simple/easiest way to buy investments (not an attorney and not legal advice). 

The contract was a simple 3 page one and I wrote this in.Also, it is a single family being rented as a rooming house (which is technically not legal here).

With all the resources available today to research and learn about the industry, I’m surprised this “easy money” mindset persists.To me, real estate is far from passive or simple.

Becoming a property owner.The hardest part about this right now is underwriting deals, remaining patient and disciplined.Outside of that, the actual details of managing the property are only hard if you do not have systems in place, delegate responsibility, and don't fully comprehend what physical asset investments require-- capex & opex heavy.