Gerard uses Appfolio to manage everything which is nice because of the online tools.  

Let’s just say I want to avoid rookie mistakes before I take the plunge.Looking forward to hearing from all the experienced (or even not-so-experienced!)

In-person interactions are great for building trust with potential investors.Real Estate Platforms:BiggerPockets: A robust platform for connecting with private lenders and investors.Fund That Flip, PeerStreet, Groundfloor: Online platforms connecting investors with real estate projects.Social Media Groups: Facebook and LinkedIn groups dedicated to real estate investing often have private investors or lenders looking to connect.Personal Network: Often overlooked, but friends, family, and colleagues may know individuals interested in investing.Private Money Brokers: If you're working on wholesaling deals, you may find brokers who have established relationships with private money lenders.Real Estate Agents: Some agents have connections with private investors, especially those focused on investment properties.For your 50% LTV, it's good to approach investors who may be interested in lower-risk, high-equity deals.

It's crucial to consult with professionals experienced in 1031 exchanges and partnership dissolutions to ensure compliance and optimize tax deferral.Given the complexities, seeking personalized advice from a tax advisor or attorney is highly recommended.

I understand the scarcity mindset you're talking about, but there’s plenty of money out there to fund deals, especially for experienced investors like you.

I can't post the link here, you can dm me or search online. 

These markets don’t experience extreme price swings, making them ideal for a buy-and-hold strategy with reliable cash flow and minimal volatility.On the other hand, Houston, DFW, and San Antonio are experiencing rapid growth due to continued job and population migration.

Connecting with local lenders or experienced investors can really help you get clarity.

Here's a list of things to track:- Formal lease application- Formal signed and executed lease specific to your state- Payment history (I recommend using online rent collection like Apartments.com, RentRedi, etc)- Maintenance requests and receipts- Accounting for all rental-related expenses (repairs, utilities, etc) The more you treat it like a business, the more helpful you are to your CPA come tax time. 

A reasonable hourly rate would be $200-300/hr. for less experienced agents, closer to $500 for experienced agents IMO.