I got an email today that the BOI requirement was on hold again since the fifth circuit reinstated the injunction today.

I am considering getting into this space (looking at some courses), but worried that its too late, and that deep local market knowledge/understanding of buyers/connection with developers etc is required to make this work, which only incumbent/long term investors will have and would be hard for a new entrant starting from scratch to catch-up...is my hypothesis valid in your opinion ?

Some, like ours, focus on offering optional services such as renters insurance or washer/dryer rentals without requiring tenants to opt into a full package.When choosing a property manager, I recommend asking about the structure and purpose of any fees.

If a landlord plans to hold the property for a while, we always recommend an annual lease, ending to align with the summer leading lesson, or staggered with their other leases depending on the situation.  

We don’t know any PMCs to recommend in the area mentioned, but since selecting the wrong PMC is usually more harmful than selecting a bad tenant, you might want to read our series about “How to Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”:https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processesWe recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

If I have some cash do you recommend clearing the loan or invest instead for next property with proper planning ? 

I would recommend getting with a CPA to go through your tax liability.

My contract with my property managers requires my approval for any expense over $500.

When I was 22, I did a house hack, and I highly recommend it.

I recommend reaching out to 2-3 PMs and then using tools like Zillow and Rentometer to get a full picture.