Over time I branched off and worked in the various other fields building my skills and knowledge.

I use that term to mean someone who is not skilled or not willing to put a lot of effort into it as opposed to "amateur" referring to someone who is new to it.

Be also mentally and emotionally prepared for the folks that think just because this is not your primary home, it's somehow less of a catastrophic event for you because others did lose their primary homes.That's why it's vital for you to form support networks with people who are in your same boat - ideally in the same community.This truly pains me to share - but most of the disasters I'm seeing across Western NC are going to be considered flood events and if you do not have a separate flood policy you will likely get no coverage.

Only nonrecourse loans will not affect your personal DTI - if you personally guarantee the debt, you're going to take the DTI hit for it unless you can qualify for it to be excluded.Find a local lender who is skilled in working with self-employed and investor clients and talk through your situation with them. 

The CRASH is for sure coming....Here's how to protect yourself:1) Only buy good deals below current market value2) Prudently escrow the money it takes to get them into service (in service = making money)3) Don't over-extend on the amount of projects you can do at one time (project = time between purchase and "in service")4) Continually build your skills in getting deals (sales/networking/marketing), building a better depth chart of vendors, project management, and writing strategic scopes of work for the properties you buy. 5) Put money aside after every successful project.

Networking also plays a vital role; connecting with other investors, real estate agents, and industry experts can provide valuable insights and open doors to new opportunities.

For tenants to continue paying comparable rent, new companies must move into the city and create replacement jobs with similar wages and skill requirements.

Some of the best skills I've learned are basic real estate math and finance —being able to analyze potential deals to see if they are feasible and can generate good profit or cash flow. 

Accept that the successful RE investors have a well developed skill set that is not immediately acquired.

The wealth of knowledge shared in this community has not just boosted my skills but opened up new pathways for me in the real estate realm.