Maintain a credit score of 620 or higher, save for a down payment, and research markets carefully.

I get paid within a day of arrival (I now set up direct pay so I will handle my own payments going forward).  

You share the lease, you share his payment history, and you give a total of what is owed.

The website 51west.properties also scores low on scam advisor ("owner is using a service to hide their identity, high number of suspicious websites on the server, registrar has a high % of spammers and fraud sites, website is (very) young, website appears to be hosted by a company with a bad reputation", all according to https://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/51west.properties...)Trust your instincts. 

My current monthly mortgage payment plus projected future mortgage payment (2900+2900 = 5800).

They typically have multiple origination points (meaning very high closing costs) very high rates (compared to conventional but also compared to 6 month or longer waiting period DSCR products) and almost always have VERY long pre-payment periods up to 5 years.

No, just inform them you are the new owner (they may want proof) and provide them with the address to send payments. 

Late rent payments, etc. 

That way we could start renting without needing a new down payment and all of the closing costs.

I am wondering if my first steps (past the education part) is to build a network of people who know, like, and trust me through posting content like newsletters, articles, podcasts, doing webinars, going to events (aka build my brand), or, should I first find a deal and then raise capital?