These can build your confidence and influence for when you need to raise capital for an apartment building. 

I’d suggest getting a floating rate instead of locking yourself into a high fixed rate because rates should stop coming down next year.Remember the influence that mentors have.

One key question is how much do you want to influence the results based on active management?

Our county hasn't experienced the trickle down influence of DC's largesse like Howard/Montgomery/PG/Anne Arundle, but that doesn't mean they aren't great places to live and invest.Shoot me a PM if you want to talk more.

I respect you wanting to do more, reach more, get more...you might be better off by finding someone in the community who would be willing to introduce you into their sphere of influence.

An appraisal is just ONE person's OPINION of value and that opinion can easily be influenced by the seller or wholesaler.

Unfortunately, all of the influencers have gotten entry level investors overbidding on old properties that appear to cash flow, and then many realize that they are in way over their head. 

Network on here, network in FB groups, cold call/text certain neighborhoods or property types, have a SOI(sphere of influence) that you keep in touch with, notify any friend/family that you are licensed, run FB ads(I haven't done it).

Rather than tangible wealth, our following, likes, and subscribers will signal our societal value, power and influence.

There are fidiciary advisors for the public markets that investors don't trust, but they implicitly trust various social media influencers and everything online about real estate..