anything I should know, be causious of or be aware of?

How far behind are you?

I tried attending one in my local market a couple of times but felt like I was in some hotel ballroom being pitched on how the 12 year-old kid up in front would teach us all how to run to the back of the room to swipe $10K on our AMEX for the secrets of real estate investing.

Quote from @Morgan Leiviska: How I would build this database for you would be to connect with people at local meetups that you find.

Parking in OB is highly sought after as I'm sure you know.

Maybe the strategist simply does not know the North Alabama market as well as other areas they cover? 

How would I go about getting the money to house hack.

You need a reserve to handle unexpected costs, particularly during the first 1-2 years of ownership and learning how to manage the property. 

Ask me how I know.

It's essential for me to acquire these skills as I navigate potential roles in the real estate industry.If you have any insights, recommendations, or perhaps know of specific training programs or resources for learning Yardi, I would greatly appreciate your guidance.