But one tool that often gets overlooked in the wealth-building strategy is life insurance - and it can be a powerful asset for your real estate business. 

The people still need to sell, but no one in their right mind will buy it.

Getting a “real state” license is one thing.

If you're willing and able, I do recommend the "house hacking" strategy which is just a fancy name for buying a rental property and living in one of the units, because you'll get very favorable financing - an owner-occupied fixed-rate 30-year mortgage.I'd also say, analyze that property as if you won't live there and it's a pure rental, and make sure the property is still cash flow positive if there's a tenant in your unit because then you'll know if it's actually a good investment.And when you analyze it, include payment of a property manager in your #s because if you don't, and doing so would make it go cash flow negative, then you've just bought yourself a job because you literally can't step away from managing it without losing money.

I don't regret selling the Bitcoin one bit.

You really don't need that LLC until you pay off the property and it's questionable if you need it then as long as you maintain your property and have correct insurance.Yes to wind insurance, not sure about hurricane.I use Foremost STR policy for one property.I am about to switch to USAA (retired Navy) for another because they quoted a policy that was 3k lower than what we have.

Yes, either that or a multi-family next (leaning towards the MF, if I can find a good one).

However, our current hard money lender only funds one loan at a time, limiting our ability to take on multiple deals simultaneously. 

I would say you should start off by just meeting multi-family investor-friendly agents who can help get you started with 5 units search and work on finding you off-market ones as well Thanks Kerlous!

I know there are limits on how much you can deduct for each year but my guess is that you would be fine with only one rental.