Specifically I need to learn the ins and outs of real estate contracts.Finally, do you think it is necessary or beneficial to get my real estate license even if I never intend to be a real estate agent per se?My

I'm semi familiar with that strategy but have never done it myself.

Good afternoon - I've been looking over the past few weeks for a couple of suitable rental SFH in SE MI (ideally, finding properties that need a bit (or a lot) of TLC, improving them and holding/renting).  

.- where parking is allowed- burn ban days, yard watering restriction days- only 2 cars per house- no boats, ATVs, TVs, semi-trucks, etc. -- local rules- no parking on lawns- no "for parts" cars that don't run and are being worked on- no indoor furniture outside, no outdoor storage or sheds- no gazebos, pools, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, trampolines- where trash bins should be placed and when (my city is picky about this - fines)My lease is about 7 pages now.

Semi-passive income is the best you can hope to achieve.

See: https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/12388/86727-renting-without-owner-permission-can-this-be-legal-even-semi-legal

You can try digging around on facebook, google, etc. and seeing if you can find a number, but most of the time getting semi-reliable phone info will require spending at least a little money.

My spouse and I fell into real estate semi-accidentally: three years ago, we decided to lease our first home here in Austin after purchasing a second home, and then a few months later, we inherited a property in a small town on the Oregon coast.

If you want to be semi-passive there are other options; purchase a small apartment complex and hire 3rd party property management for example.

We will be settling/semi-retiring in Wilmington and I would love to connect with some investors in the area and do some networking.