Network (Virtually and more importantly in person)3.

This is not the place to cheap out over a few hundred dollars.Lots of lenders and virtually all borrowers never read their loan documents.

I will be reaching out soon to setup a virtual meeting.

I have a friend who has concrete stain in his multimillion dollar home and it looks good and is virtually indestructible.   

A base hit with virtually no risk is a fine place to start.  

Some others it is just answering messages virtually. 

The second of two homes I bought when I sold the rental, I would have bought a more expensive one as the one I got was close to the university and tended to attract students which had higher turn over (though it may also be my local market).I'd also look up how to do a 1031 (I think that is what it's called, I'm not in the US) where you defer capital gains taxes on rentals by buying another within a set period of time.

Buying near a trauma center or university is a solid plan for later, but getting experience with a simpler rental first can save you some headaches!

Also, I call BS on virtually anyone claiming $100k gross in the Poconos unless it's some oddball 7br place on a great lake.

The same level of diversification would be near impossible with only active holdings because we cannot be a expert on all things.I have my active investments which virtually always are off market purchased value adds (my hobby that pays well) and am an LP in some syndications (passive investments that also pay well).