Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Lenders often consider the whole picture, so keep building that credit but don't let it hold you back from exploring options.Since you're considering a trailer to fix up, have you thought about markets like East Phoenix or the outskirts of Austin?

Also, you could also hang out at some local ice rinks where people take their kids to hockey practice!

It will give you a 30,000 feet view of real estate investing as a whole for different strategies and will allow you to find new ideas and to explore and see what works for you!

To minimize upfront costs, explore down payment assistance programs, creative financing strategies like seller financing, or rent-to-own agreements. 

Since it sounds like you have strong W2 income and would probably be okay paying the mortgage sometimes, I'd even explore a 5-10% down payment option.

Hey Matt,With $50K in a self-directed IRA, there are several strategies you could explore to generate both short- and long-term returns, depending on your risk tolerance and investment goals.

Now that was a side of real estate that I hadn’t explored.

Your financial position is strong, and leveraging financing for your next rental while maintaining a conservative debt-to-income ratio is a smart approach—consider consulting a lender to explore options that align with your goals and keep your investments sustainable.

You could convince people they should have their kids, parents and/or grandparents live in their houses with them.