Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

I hope you are working with an excellent agent or broker, they can create leverage and opportunity for you while protecting your interest. 

I’d be happy to connect and share ideas on building a solid plan, like assembling your CORE 4 (agent, lender, property manager, contractor) to help streamline your journey.

@Timothy Frazier Yes, the only reason to use HML as a down payment is if the property is "mostly turnkey" AND you don't have the funds to renovate AND you have strong CMA comps from a real estate agent that supports that the fact that you are buying a property that is under valued AND your renovations would push that so that you could refinance.

I don't know, it sounds kind of weird but my friend is kind of freaking out about potential liability since the lien was literally placed on the house essentially hours before closing. she needs to contact whoever wrote the title insurance.. the attorney is just an agent for the insurance carrier.. that should fast track.. this happens I have had it happen to me by crooks/criminals literally who put a mortgage on a property 15 minutes before my title company recorded my mortgage so when my title policy came out i was in second position not first position as my escrow instructions stated I needed to be .. 

Financing can be trickier in smaller markets, so work with an investor-friendly agent and lender who know the area.

There system has been helpful for someone with no prior experience in the process, from finding properties, lenders, insurance agents, CPA's, attorneys, etc.

Having a real estate license, I would credit the commission payed out I would receive for being my own agent towards closing costs for the new property.

With enough knowledge you can make a educated decision on which approach you take.My experience:I personally don't sign up for any program who take you aside during events and try to sell packages that is just blatant sales strategy.Once you sign up there is every attempt to make you sign for their programs for bookkeeping, registered agent, LLC or corp setup fee which have ridiculous even with platinum membership.Basic standard structure they suggest to take advantage of multiple deductions can be easily achieved by proper education or work with a good firm like https://wcginc.com  who is local to you.A umbrella C-crop to manage all other LLC properties and take advantage of many tax deductions that are not available with a llc, its also used to take losses up to 100K as startup expenses and dissolve the entity after few years.Few LLC entities for investing in Real Estate, etc preferably in Wyoming or Nevada ( you can find many companies online who can do this for $150 compared to anderson $1500-$3000) , they will claim they have a secret Operating agreement which is bogus.They certainly try to take advantage of tax loopholes and claim to be smart people, my view they are just taking advantage of numbers as per their own statements.

Brokers look out for their clients, insurance agents look out for their job.