I think newer investors should use direct mail as a way of learning the game before they invest money on the other techniques that get you in touch with sellers more directly.

I worked alongside professionals as a "helper" With pretty much no construction experience, they put me on the dirty grunt work, cleaning rat poop, removing the old toilets, scrubbing down baseboards, etc. but as I was doing that, I was watching every single thing they did, and pestered them with tons of questions on how to do things and different techniques.

Go on youtube and learn about creative financing techniques so you can understand what "tool" to use and how to apply it.

That is a 101 type of technique, the IRS is very aware of it.If "I won't get caught" is the approach, then you can whack anyone you want - as long as nobody wonders why the rose bushes in the back yard are growing so nicely and digs to find out. 

I look forward to connecting on conversations about the local market as well as RE investing techniques!

You might find a deal on there, but it's not likely as most investors have already passed up on those deals for one reason or another.A technique that can be useful is to build a broker/agent list and call 3 every day until you work through your list. 

That's a technique for seeking out property owners that they use in the US all the time.

@Jake Berwind I don't know about Florida laws but in Washington you can make an offer for a property using a land trust(to assign)-but its definitely an advanced real estate technique.

I look forward to asking a ton of questions and hopefully helping answer some as I get a solid grasp on the different tactics and techniques I’ll be using to buy and rent houses. 

The main benefit of being "grandfathered" by using the existing structure is that setbacks and construction techniques can also be grandfathered.