There are so many dead ends or worse that it's no wonder some of my acquaintances openly reject real estate "guides" and educators.

Hey Louis, if you are a newer investor, I suggest working with a realtor, as they can help guide you through the process for your first deal.

We have a ton of Californians investing here in Cleveland so I figure you will get some value out of reading The Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods.

It's great to have you here.Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: http://www.biggerpockets.com/m...Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/a...Read Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/r...Check out BP Money Podcast: https://www.biggerpockets.com/..Wishing you the best!

And you've joined one of the best communities for all things real estate investing.1️⃣ Download this ultimate beginner’s guide: https://assets2.biggerpockets.com/uploads/user_file/file_object/1694/UBG_2018.pdf2️⃣ Read BP beginner books on investing: https://store.biggerpockets.co...Also, read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill 3️⃣ Subscribe to BP podcasts or YouTube channel and watch their webinars. 4️⃣ Ask questions here on the forums.5️⃣ Visit (join) a local (and legit) real estate investment association.6️⃣ Consider joining a BP bootcamp: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/real-estate-investing-bootcampsI wish you all the best in your investing journey!

The Book on Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Turner: This comprehensive guide covers various aspects of rental property investing, including house hacking.

Many do not qualify and having a PM does not help your case.You may want to read up on IRC 469 and review the IRS's Audit Technique guide. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-mssp/pal.pdf

I’ve been working on the strategy with the first guided post. 

Would be happy to share you local contacts here (PMs, contractors, lenders) who can guide you.

Consider building a team of people to guide you for each step (local lender, local realtor, attorney and GC).