It is also a good idea to find a lender to work with who has a reputation for qualifying first time buyer or non-prime mortgages.Good luck

Find a reputable turnkey provider in your target market.

Basically looking to forge a nice working relationship in this market with a reputable and reliable person in the industry. 

So mentoring here is "free" and coaching is "free" except for a few individuals who have built a reputation of promotion over long years.

I don't remember all of the details so I won't besmirch anyone's reputation beyond what I've already said. 

I actually for a very reputable broker in the area, Diane Griffin & The Griffin Properties Real Estate Team.

For example, you can probably get a few properties with conventional financing, but by the time your looking to scale, you've hopefully built a solid reputation for yourself as an investor.This reputation will allow you to tap into things like hard money lenders (if you can do some cash out refinances on earlier properties to pay off the higher rates hard lenders expect).

You can meet people at your local REIA, but most likely they will offer hard money loans (and not private) being that they don't really know you personally.Network with people and build relationships and a good reputation.

Finding a reputable turn key company in the Midwest might be the way to go for what you are looking to do.

I'm primarily looking to work side by side with a reputable attorney who could assist me with double closings, and one that could analyze my contracts to ensure that they are legalized to be used in the Huntsville Al area..