You can also look to apply for a 203k loan as part of the FHA program and incorporate any rehab costs into the loan which will essentially help you increase the value of the property and increase your equity right away (you can search BP or google FHA loans and 203k loans for more information etc). 

Financial planners typically have zero real estate-related training, largely because there's nothing there for them to get paid on other than flat fees.If you're interested in running your own personal situation through a professional financial planning tool that incorporates stocks/bonds but is also real estate centric, check out RealEstateFinancialPlanner.com.

The Grotes do a good job: https://www.ibuyaustinhouses.com/So do signature home buyers: http://www.signaturehomebuyers.com/sell-a-home/ The website is a formula that has to be assembled...there are a million of these sites out there...you just have to get firm on the elements you want to incorporate.

Is it better to go independent and market via sites like mentioned above or find an agency that specializes in corporate or short-term leases?

A strong asset protection plan incorporates both insurance policies and certain types of documents drafted by attorneys which shift costs, shift burdens, and shift liabilities.

For instance, determine the type of property you want to purchase, and the price range, then work backwards from there to determine how much income you'll need to prove (assuming you'll go the more traditional route of financing).In my personal case, I incorporated, and have everything invoiced through my entity.  

There is so much inherent knowledge and processes that go into making your career in real estate successful that the education that will will get with your mentor will be invaluable.This comes with a caveat though, when signing up with a mentor, you want to have a clear road map of what involvement the mentor will have with you, and how you will be incorporated into their program.

You photograph the key rooms and a graphic designer adds the furniture, window treatments, etc.

What pushed us to incorporate was trying to take the real estate business from passive to active for reasons of financial aid. 

That being said, I probably wont be incorporating it into my marketing.But you never know until you try!