That said, if you can gain some basic knowledge and take away a few good nuggets from a course as a newbie, then it could be a good starting point (of course the best starting point is doing what you are doing here, engaging the BP community).

but of course I do not charge an up front fee  as miniscule in the big picture as this company is charging.

Money can be made of course but you may have to wait a long while (3-5 years seems to be normal).

This kind of creativity (or a massive pile of cash) is what's needed to "Cash Flow" in the near-term with a Boulder investment, but unless Boulder dramatically reverses course and halts the NIMBYSM that stops new construction in it's tracks, those who hold on for the long-term are likely to be highly rewarded. 

What's the proper course of action?

Have money, get trained, work with experienced people, join a REIA.

Of course you have!

Of course, not all newly formed households immediately become apartment renters, but an analysis of longer-term economic and demographic trends can be useful in understanding the current quarter's level of demand.

The key takeaway here is to reach out to your tax professional early in the year and provide them with all the necessary tax information to ensure timely and accurate filing.To answer your question, unless you have the proper knowledge or training to handle your taxes, especially since you have a rental property, it would be advisable to seek out another tax professional instead of filing your taxes yourself.

Of course it's a give and take between the two..