This can be live seminars, boxed seminars, podcasts[plenty on Biggerpockets], reading books...Once you do these things you will know what you need from personal, one on one mentor. 

Our contract in MD has a box in the inspection addendum that allows the buyer to get out for simply not liking the inspection.

Another out-of-the-box down payment option:   there is at least one local tech startup that is offering down payment assistance in exchange for sharing proceeds from AirBnB income from the property for a period of time.  

Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: http://www.biggerpockets.com/meetSet up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsRead Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingIf you wish to tag someone in the conversation on the forum, type @ followed by their name and then select the name of that person which should appear below the comments box.

Way to think outside the box! 

But my tenants are pipefitters (they can change a hot water tank), boilermakers (can change a hot water tank with their eyes closed), electricians (can replace a fuse box with a breaker box), electrical crews (can wire a 2 story house for cable tv), scaffold builders (can trim a tree with a pole saw), welders (can replace the factory exhaust with a custom stainless steel exhaust on a riding mower), construction foreman (can add a bathroom counter and vanity).

You might get thrown off by their auto expense (which may vary for you), depreciation (on their basis), or a black box like "other" (Line 19 last year I think). 

Staying on top of what currently seems like the optimal way to rank highly is difficult and time consuming.So, the way in which the platform you use matters is "what tools does this platform give me to make sure that the site I'm building checks all those boxes easily and effectively?"

If you are planning to reside the exterior, I would dispose of the EPS and use 1.5 - 2" faced, polyiso (R10 - R12) on the exterior (with taped seams), then build-out your window boxes (if installing new windows, build/install bucks before you insulate and install your windows after insulating.   

It’s a pain to pick up checks or cash, and Who wants to go to a P.O. box every few days.