I would definitely encourage looking for local meetups.

Definitely getting that "hollowed out" look.

And they definitely needed that $200,000 for this renovation project, because as you can see, they and a lender who deployed the funds for this would likely be boarding a sinking ship. 

I am definitely getting stuck with analysis paralysis as many beginners do.

Yes, since you’re a real estate investor and possibly a high earner, you will definitely benefit from working with a specialized tax professional who understands real estate tax strategies, rather than just relying on an H&R Block preparer.

I would definitely NOT recommend paying for your own appraisal and then taking that to a new lender and asking them to use it. 99% of banks will require the appraisal to be ordered by one of their own AMCs and will not accept one provided by you. 

@Diana Devine Yes, in my opinion, to be more specific to your ask, Open Spaces was definitely worth the investment to join.

If you're local to Houston, check out this meetup - https://www.spacecityrei.com/eventsIt's monthly and you should definitely try to make one if you can.

I'm definitely out of my comfort zone and I'm afraid to take the first step. 

Hey Erin,Great question, and definitely not naive!