Most local banks and credit unions will have free accounts.You need two accounts: checking and savings. 

For starters, I recommend to begin with a single family home or if you are looking to start locally, do house hacking. 

Your property taxes will also be higher as you can't use the home owner's grant.There might be local RE meet ups in Vancouver area where you can go and listen to what others have to say. 

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

Unless you use a local professional familiar with the market, who you trust, best way to know a good deal is to study the market.

Initially I’m wanting to start in the local Chattanooga/North Georgia area

Even if you're in a local 50+ league and want to be competitive, a coach is probably over-kill.

That said, I highly recommend speaking with a local professional in the DFW area to get insights tailored to your specific goals.

I’ve had to widen my search radius to smaller suburbs or target properties needing light cosmetic work to make the numbers work.Value-add opportunities: Adding amenities tenants love, like finished basements or upgraded kitchens, seems to justify rent premiums in this market.Navigating the competition:Be creative with financing: Seller financing or partnering with other investors has been helpful to secure deals when conventional offers didn’t cut it.Work with local agents and wholesalers: They often have their finger on the pulse of off-market opportunities, which is critical in a hot market.For those new to suburban Chicago investing, I’d say the key is finding the “sweet spot” neighborhoods—ones on the rise but not yet maxed out in price.

I take a percent off of total top line (including cleaning fees) that is 5-10% less than what a local "hands on" operator would charge.