Hi John,Not sure where you are located but if in Austin, I too may USAF retired and probably could give you some pointers over coffee or lunch.  

I go to a shop and pay them, because I don't trust my mechanical skills, even with something as basic as an oil change.Any tax preparer anywhere, including franchises like H&R Block, should be able to prepare your taxes correctly.

Find the REIA group for your areaAs Henry noted, post something specific for your area and tag your market.Get on Loopnet for your area and property type, reach out to the brokers that are listing deals and offer to take to coffee (they are often invested in deals too but you could ask for connections to other operators that might be getting started).And, again as Henry noted, each person you meet, ask them what other networking events they have attended that you can put on your list.

What's the breakdown in tenancy between the shops and any income from the barn (or the house)? 

Hi Shruti,That sounds like my type of REI investing, feel free to add me to your Network would love to talk shop some time or help in any way.

Getting a good painter at a reasonable price requires persistence and comparison shopping.

Lets grab coffee next week and brainstorm! 

Our team here at CrestCore is dedicated to working with the out of state investor and have the team in place to make us a "one stop shop" for everything you could need to build a portfolio here in Memphis.  

It will hit hard on renewal and shopping for a new carrier.

As a one-stop shop for mortgages, real estate, and property management, we save our clients money and time by providing a seamless experience.