So ultimately these sellers are coming to you, is it through SEO? 

As far as the actual property, the contract would show your entity as the buyer and eventually you would assign the contract to whoever the ultimate buyer is. 

So all questions come back to the ultimate question: What kind of life do you want as an investor?

Mix and match depending on your ultimate goal and plan.

Looking forward to throwing my full, authentic self into learning from mentors, other neophytes (like myself), and the prodigious amount of information that will ultimately yield success! 

I ultimately settled on Columbus, OH as my target market because there was positive cashflow from day one, cheaper entry points and landlord friendly laws that won't handcuff both hands and 9 toes behind your back. 

, you may find it easier to do distance investing vs in the same state.I have three doors locally (single fam and a single fam we turned to a duplex), but ultimately my husband and I are more focused on the long distance investing as it's hard to make numbers make sense out here in Utah.That said, there's amazing real estate groups and meetups out here, and if you do want to buy local, getting connected with those groups will be the best way to hear how we make deals work out here, or killer deals that are hitting the market or that might be off market deals.Best of luck to you as you start out on your real estate investing path, we're all here rooting for you!

But ultimately, best advice I have gotten is to be a fair and firm landlord and take good care of your properties.

Your goal of purchasing a second home for rental purposes is a great way to start building a stream of passive income that can ultimately change the general trajectory of your financial wellbeing.I commend you on your dedication and eagerness to learn more, and I'm confident that with the right mindset and approach, you'll achieve the success you're aiming for.

All the emphasis and effort on renovations and inspections is ultimately an attempt to control the controllables enough to create a desirable home for a future resident.