Making money in real estate requires experience and starting with no or little money makes you study harder.As much as most of us probably wished for it, getting started with a lot of money in your pocket is a recipe for disaster: the temptation is to make the deal work by throwing money at it.If you want to go into real estate go with a syndicator with a good track record.

We discovered problems that required a lot of work and significantly reduced the property’s value, forcing me to lower the price.

Don't forget cost segregation studies as well. 

First step for you is to study investing in income properties.Generally a rental property will have in the range of 4% -50% of rental income going toward expenses to maintain the investment before debt repayment (mortgage). 

Someone with $10M in the bank in cash just needs to put a lot of money to work and time value and tax write off is more interesting to them than a hungry investor in their 20s that has never found a deal.Honestly, books are great, but they are about as "boiler plate" as you can get as I'm sure you're discovering.

Would love to connect with people who can give me advice on what to look for or where to study for starting out.

I remember studying your business model early on through your posts and early podcast episodes.

I would study AvantStay and some of their properties in your area or NC generally.

Study the market.

Study it, got to meet ups, and learn your state rules and regs.