Regarding getting started, I recommend finding an STR owner who's overwhelmed or just worn out with managing their property, and perhaps who's also not using a dynamic pricing tool, and then offering to manage it for a very small cost. 

Quote from @Paul Gupta: Hi, in California, For jobs requiring a license, there was CSLB (contractor state licensing board) which would give either a General Contractor license, or specialty licenses by trade (~60 specialties such as concrete, welding tile, ) https://www.cslb.ca.gov/about_us/library/licensing_classific...My Q: does Maryland and DC area have similar requirements? 

I recommend reading “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing: How to Buy, Rehab, and Manage Out-of-State Rental Properties” - I found it to be very helpful when I got started investing 2.5 years ago.

IBKR is my other one, and my "main" for any active trading.

Always have backup subs as well, and in my case I have spent time learning all the trades so in a bind I can fill in and get it done myself if I have to.

I’m a young entrepreneur in the real estate space, and I’ve recently started my own company.

When starting out it’s a pretty good deal for someone lend you all the money and you give them 50% of the profits.

. - Prices are too high- Prices are falling- Interest rates are too high- My Cousins, Mothers, Sister told me that Real Estate is too riskyThere’s never a “perfect” time, but everyone wishes that they started sooner.

Have you considered other starting strategies like house hacking or live-in flips?

Lates on a mortgage trade can impact your ability to get loans in the future.