I'm still learning the industry,  but I have been able to partner with a CDC based out of texas and they have been a great help and they have allowed me to get involved with getting investors for their project and I'm definitely excited for it.  

I've had success simply informing the tenant that I plan to involve a collections agency as a next step if they don't pay what they owe.

You don’t get involved personally.

That might be the single most important point - 2 out of the 3 properties have come as off market deals through our network, and we also found our attorney, accountant, agent, contractors, etc through our network.

If there is no agreement signed and this person is just someone listed from the broker's database, I do not believe it is acceptable for the broker to collect a split in addition to the house split.If you are to consider negotiating this additional split, there is a lot to take into account here... what is the % of business that you generate on your own vs. how much your broker contributes?

In the meantime watch the BP podcasts and use the BP calculator to start analyzing deals so you get comfortable with the numbers.By this time next year I would say if you do this you'll have 10k in a bank account with an ok credit which should make you eligible for an FHA loan to buy (1-4 Units) with 3.5% down and get you started. 

Just make sure to account for any additional operating expenses when projecting your cash flow.

@Josh WillisHouse hacking involves buying a small multi-family property and renting out units to cover mortgages.

My name is Chris, looking to start getting involved in making some passive income.

I'm struggling to find a good example that doesn't involve shared laundry.