IN my personal LO there was an agent in each one of the transactions .. the two I sold the contracts came through a broker and the one I bought had a listing agent and I represented myself as a CA Broker but of course did not take a fee.. the Napa one was really cool for us not so much for the seller..

I’m saying you have to do more of it on a consistent basis which most people do not have the budget for… I’ve never personally used the fake check mailer.  

I personally make well over $100k/yr cash flow from 21 buy-and-hold properties here.

We are a boutique firm in Chattanooga and every agent in our firm is personally involved in either real estate development, owns investment properties or flips homes. 

Personally, I would start simple with a single family. 

You could also sell the lead to another company/person.

Buying as a vacation rental could potentially qualify for a lower interest rate, but you’ll likely need to provide proof of personal use (even if minimal).

In general I say its a personal preference and there is no right or wrong here, just what works best for you. 

I'm based out of Raleigh and personally own rental properties in Fayetteville, Benson and Clayton and could offer some friendly advice and help out with your journey. 

You need to be able to talk with strangers over the phone or in person to build rapport.