You can also check meetup.com or search Facebook for real estate investment groups, clubs, or meetings in your area.

The annual cost of doing my LLC in WY is usually $200, less than my checking account fees. 

Just want to double check I'm not going to run into any issues.

It will be money well spent.Also, criminals know how to check which properties in the area are STRs and might be vacant during most of the winter.  

Sidenote: business analytics, MBA, so also this has been an opportunity to tell the story with data.

You need lease and deposit check at closing so the property has to be move in ready not a rehab.

I would check to make sure you have that language in the lease.

A good contractor is critical—get referrals and check references.

Yep for one especially in the early stages a hard credit pull would not be useful, just have them do soft checks for the time being and opt out of credit solicitation: www.optoutprescreen.com I could be biased... that said typically working with one lender than can help regardless of where you're looking and having a relationship with that will provide the easiest and most cost effective route long term. 

I know someone who ahd a loand written at 10% from years ago and now they said a state is requesting more info on the loan because it was above usury laws and they may have to cut a check back to that person.Let me guess, good old Pennsylvania?