There's a big difference between reading books, listening to podcasts repeatedly, asking for advice on this site where the responders don't have a truly vested interest and a mentor that you're paying that has an absolute interest in your success.  

If rotted, they can also replace window sill/framing on site, etc.

We're basically wanting to learn the ropes to serve ourselves when purchasing properties but would also like to be qualified enough to help friends out if they too are in need of purchasing property.Our big concern is that getting licensed will require my wife to have to work in an office setting for a certain period of time, which currently with the children is not an option.  

Outside of real estate, I'm a business insurance broker working with small businesses, commercial realtors and anyone involved with serving businesses with less than $20M in sales.

Have you done a member search on this site to try and connect with lenders?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ingowinzer/2018/09/14/25-best-markets-for-rental-property-investment/#7110f7fb7cb7

Great that you joined the site!

Use the site to educate yourself.

Essentially what @Omar Khan is trying to explain is that the high prices are due to very high demand and the only way that the market will collapse is if the demand disappears, which I cannot see happening with our high immigration rate and while ever everyone still only wants to live in the capital citiesDon't be fooled by the media speculation and articles posted on news sites etc about the "bubble burst" and "housing crash". 

While I’m not a skilled real estate pro one like others on this site, i have a couple properties. one of the best investments I ever bought had title issues.