Almost an impossible way to “get started” as you’re going to need full purchase price in cash on hand or a HML willing to instantly fund you. 

Once you have a deal they will guide you through the process and even help you attain the funding with out coming out of pocket or using your personal credit.

I got approved for a HELOAN on my primary property but not sure if I should take the loan to just use as “leverage/reserves” to show the HML and get funded.

Labor, supply chain (we are on an island) and red tape: from offers and closing, to funding to permits.  

I personally leverage, but have a large rainy day fund. 

For active investments I advocate considering how you can diversify WITHOUT ceding your competitive advantage nor the superior profitability of the niche your in.As an example my business is running an investment fund and syndication high interest commercial mortgage loans secured by income producing real estate. 

Those in themselves are great education.Degrees won’t help you much unless you are trying to get a job at a large fund.

Aiming to maximize cashflow to fund future investments, but as newly weds rent by the room doesn't feel practical right now. 

Because of this, most of our clients refinance their properties somewhere between year 2-4, using the funds to buy another property.

I don't think rent to retirement can vet a deal any better than anyone else or you, they just have a bit of a system. but the new builds in Lehigh acres, Cape Coral, north port, etc are all garbage. septic systems, poor economics, low rent to purchase price ratios, you are banking on appreciation and buying at market. building direct is going to give you a competitive advantage on a 3 unit let's say worth 600,000 you are going to be 120k ahead than if you bought it through them. that's my analysis. if you are super lazy and too busy to make money and have millions to throw around then I'd recommend not thinking much about investing. but you can also invest in funds and be way omre passive than buying a new build from far away. but if you want to add real value then get involved and make it happen. getting wealthy isn't easy. you work hard for your money and there are build to rent developers like us that try to answer and add value to start buiding relationshipsl