We also see the struggles you face:Disgruntled customers due to communication breakdowns and scheduling mishaps.Frustrated employees missing deadlines because of complex systems.Recurring service issues stemming from a lack of standardized procedures.Unhappy technicians dealing with unclear pay structures and disputes.The constant threat of legal and financial trouble from non-compliance.You wear many hats, and there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Not as reliable or accurate as the above method. 

Material Participation Activities:Property Maintenance: Engage in repairs or construction work on the property to maintain or enhance its condition.Contractor Management: Oversee the hiring and coordination of contractors or handymen for property-related tasks.Tenant Interaction: Communicate with tenants regarding lease agreements, inquiries, or property issues.Property Acquisition: Invest time in property search and evaluation processes, including visits to potential investment properties.Property Management Tasks: Perform activities typically handled by property management companies, such as rent collection or property inspections.Non-Qualifying Activities:Educational Pursuits: Time spent on real estate education or training programs does not count towards material participation.Investor Hours: Hours dedicated to investment analysis, financial planning, or portfolio management are not considered material participation.

I am trying to continue acquiring properties using this method and also learning about other methods as well, but I wanted to come in here to seek some advice from professionals that I'm willing to learn from as I am barely starting my real estate journey.

Here’s what you should know on Schedule E:Depreciation (Line 18) – can be added BACKCasualty Loss/Amortization/One-Time Expenses/HOA Dues (line 19) – can be added BACKInsurance (line 9) – Added BackMortgage Interest (Line 12) – Added BackTaxes (Line 16) – Added BackAnd this is why owning property is such a great method of building wealth.

I started with nothing and aggressively saved for almost a year until I had 10k for a downpayment on a cheap house.Step 2: Join online platforms like BiggerPockets, Eventbrite, Meetup, and Facebook groups to connect with investors and get an idea of what kind of properties to look for as investments.Step 3: Use Zillow to find agents and communicate what you’re looking for.Step 4: Analyze at least 5 properties a day in your target market for six months to understand what it would take for you to make positive cashflow.Step 5 Get pre approved from a bank.

Justin,Most important is to be responsive, communicative, empathetic and curious. 

And my average time to lease a unit is 17 days, via this method. 

Transparency, detail and communication.

I do not have much of my own capital to use to purchase a property and was recently given the advice to either utilize private money to purchase a property or do a few home flips to build my own capital.Does anybody have any advice and/or experience starting out with either of these two methods?