you can obviously... be patient and just save up from your active income. 

You need to establish a relationship with an active agent closing deals month to month.

Questions for later: • Is the high level of activity an overreaction to a nonissue?

@Joyce A DebrahDoYou want to be passive or active?

It is possible that you could take the deduction for your rental as a separate investment activity. 

Based on what I have heard/read thus far, it seems like I don't need a formal legal structure such as LLC for running this is as an active business (but I may set up an LLC for asset protection, which is allowed by my mortgage lender).

Sometimes a pestering police presence can be a deterrent.If the suspicious individuals are engaged in criminal activity, calling the police while it's happening helps too.

I used to be active on here (BiggerPockets) around 2009, and wow, how it has grown!

We’re actively participating in auctions, but unfortunately, we missed out on our last bid by one bid higher.

W-2 income, but it’s subject to passive activity loss limitations.