;-)I am starting to read books, audiobooks, and this site to builda basic understanding of RE investing in 3-6 months.

Ok, yes that's a bit cheeky but seriously, your talking about some very important, regulatory/law stuff, if your not willing to do the most simple basic actions of simply googling the laws, and reading through the statutes, I am sorry but than my time and effort has not been earned to help guide. 

When picking a market, I would look for things like population and job growth, rental demand, and economic diversity—basically, is the area attracting people and businesses?

In the meantime feel free to check out a post I did a while back about Cost Segregation - The Basics (biggerpockets.com)

Here are some indicators to help you assess a buyer's seriousness:Questions: Serious buyers will ask detailed questions about the property, such as maintenance costs, neighborhood amenities, and property taxesStrong Offer: If a buyer makes a strong offer quickly, it often indicates a high level of interest and intent to purchasePrivate Buyers: If approached by a private buyer, ensure they provide a Letter of Intent (LOI) and proof of funds.  

OK so basically you were a bird dog and then a contractor for them.

if they think every property on Zillow is a 'deal' then something is wrong.you got great advice and a ton of time invested in responses from @Bill B.as he pointed out - there's basically no cash flow in long term rentals now. anywhere. not even in those supposed ATM mid-west markets. 

So many people come in and are looking for a spreadsheet to estimate for them and they don't understand the basics of what numbers they are inputting.

And all the deals I do the exit on a fully rehabbed home that I fund and pay for the rehab etc for my clients. is basically 250 and under .. there is not an issue with affordability in much of the US the issue is buyers preferences.

Check passive loss rulesTrack carryforwardsMost small landlords will simply:Take the simplified $5/sq ft deductionClaim it if they have net rental incomeSkip it if they're already showing lossesPro Tips: 💪Use the simplified method - it's $1,500 max (300 sq ft × $5)If you're showing profits, take itIf you're showing losses, don't botherKeep basic photos/documentation of your spaceThe Bottom Line: 💰If you're making money on your rentals and genuinely use a home office, this is a nice extra deduction.