Network with local real estate groups, engage with online communities and use educational resources like books and online courses on real estate investing.Good luck!

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

I put 15% down for our deal, and it gives us more flexibility for the future- The template for the Contract for Deed is the general Contract for Deed for the state of MN (where I reside) - We are getting title insurance and ordered a title commitment to confirm there are no liens or claims on the property I feel like I've educated myself on different seller financing, and understand Contract for Deed protects the seller more than the buyer, so I understand why the seller is going that route, especially if selling Contract for Deeds is how they do their business.

Spend $50,000 at a seminar well at the end you have an education about seminars and maybe learn something about real estate along the way.   

Education SavingsForget 529 Plans: Use infinite banking as a much more flexible vehicle.6.

For a brand new agent, it’s valuable education getting training, learning all the necessary tools to legally represent a client the sale or purchase of their home or commercial building. 

Now you can educate more / optimize. 

This post will hopefully educate the biggerpockets community on this issue and I hope it was helpful.

Educating yourself is of the utmost importance! 

It's interesting that many of these VC-backed PMC's, despite having 10k+ properties under management, aren't doing well financially - one of them just merged with another industry-related company also not doing well.Just for fun, here's a partial list of PMC expenses that owners pretend don't exist:Office rentComputers, printers & softwareInternet & phone billOffice furnitureOffice supplies: paper, postage, ink, etc.Office liability insuranceAuto expenses: monthly payment, insurance, gas, maintenance, registration/plate feesBroker license fees: annual, monthly board & MLS fees, continuing education fees, E&O insuranceEquipment: lockboxes, signs, etc.Business income tax preparation and paymentsStaff payroll & payroll taxes Time Tasks: answering phones, calling past due tenants, scheduling tours, taking marketing pics, processing those pics, writing ads, researching rent amounts, posting ads, explaining to owners how rent determined & showing where ad posted, opening & processing mail, posting payments, bank deposits, scanning documents & posting to owner & tenant portals, explaining accounting to owners so they understand their monthly statements, taking pics/videos of repairs, finding reputable handymen and contractors, confirming they're properly licensed & insured and tracking annually, verifying repairs done properly, processing invoices for utility bills, repairs, taxes, city inspections, scheduling periodic property evaluations/inspections with tenants that don't want strangers in their homes, explaining to owners why something is taking so long, and more & more & more...OBSERVATION: many owners only want to pay a flat fee or 50% of a month of rent as a leasing fee - without realizing the repercussions.