I would like to get a list of individuals to meet with while there. 

However, this is a totally new space to me- Any advice for how to go about looking for a lawyer who works with individual investors and won't break the bank?

Only an experienced individual or professional should try this.

Individuals who bought real estate during a recession have seen their property values and cash flow nearly triple. #2 avoid sowing seeds of failure in the good times - Many investors fail due to investing in prosperous markets.

One feature that I would love is to be able to see this on the main search page so you don't even have to navigate to an individual listing.

Start with your primary, rent out any spare bedrooms "house hack"Use that to practice upgrades, kitchen, bathroom, curb appeal... etcNow you have experience as a landlord and flipper, use that to buy a distressed propertyAdd 40% equity to the property through home makeover, refinance into a low cost mortgageNow you are cashflowing a healthy margin on a second property, use that to build equity over time, cashout later and buy your duplex/quad.If it's going to take you 10 years to save up a down payment for a small apartment building, yeah it makes more sense to start growing your portfolio with cheap SFR flips instead.Every market is different, every borrower is different, every property is different, it would be ill-advised to recommend anything without recognizing the individual's nuanced goals and objectives with their next acquisition.

My friend recently told me of this scenario where the person I lease to would perhaps then double book individuals and keep deposits. 

The type of your business or the fact that you are paying them as an individual does not take away the requirement to file 1099s." 

I'm genuinely asking to understand the use case for my self for an individual investor.Re. balance, as someone who is a former CPA and has prepared financial statements for multi-billion $ funds, I understand the important of a balance sheet.

Check out padpslit.com, I use the platform to rent out 8 bedrooms in my house individually