Somehow after listening to a ton of biggerpockets and doing a whole lot of research online, I was unaware of the reserve requirement, which can obviously add up to $5,000-10,000 real quick.So depending on your finances, some form of house hacking might be the better way to go at first; whether that be buying a multifamily, 3-4 bedroom house with housemates, or a well-planned live-in-flip.

If you are not opposed to renting rooms out to friends I feel that might be a safer route to go at this time in the market. 

I would love to have a go at your spreadsheet and any other resources that may help me along my journey.

Anybody coming in behind him will just scape goat him and blame everything on him and you'll be paying for it all over again.

The guy brings a goat in and it craps all over the carpets and destroys them all... laugh, it's happened before... 

Its nice to know i might not need to go at my off-market leads and deals alone.

Lots of folks don't like Dodd-Frank, parts of it I don't care for either, but it's the law and I understand the purpose.As some think, it's to just prevent another balloon popping, not really so much as clamping down on predatory practices.When these groups form, IMO, they go at it from the wrong angle, harping on how they are effected. 

I tried to go at it without reading much first.

If you can market direct to motivated sellers, you can have an easier go at it, but you must spend cash on marketing, be consistent, and have people skills.What is the most cost effective means?

Last point, don't go at this alone.