Quote from @Peter Firehock: Introduction:Well you've certainly put together a long and comprehensive analysis.   

Gotta work on that reading comprehension, Drew.The second and third sentences of my post are literally:"I lived in Detroit for 5 years before moving out of state, and during that time, I built a strong network of contractors, handymen, and other boots-on-the-ground contacts.

How do you approach educating people on the realities of the business? 

Look for CPAs who stay abreast of evolving tax codes related to real estate and possess a comprehensive understanding of deductions, credits, and depreciation strategies unique to the industry. 

While this is a great and highly motivating goal, most people are either clueless or incorrect in their belief as to what is required to obtain this “lifestyle”.Understanding of the “how to” get there is further obscured by the misleading, and often patently false “pathways” sold by real estate educational MARKETING companies as workshops, upsold to association memberships, upsold to mentorships.

Thank you for summarizing so much of the problems in a comprehensible way @AJ Wong

Typically, I also avoid paid education because there is so much free content.

Quote from @Jim Rice: Lauren, really just trying to put together a group that would what to meet up if possible and share education, information & build relationships.

There a ton of great DSCR options you can find on the Lenders tab at the top of the page, or connect with an experienced broker who can shop all the best lenders for you and educate you on the best options out there.

@Anna NickensDeciding between investing in mentorship or self-education for real estate investing depends on your goals, budget, and learning style.