We hunt and fish and farm, most days, and occasionally we sneak into town to poach a property or two!

@Ben Leybovich I would disagree about getting the large companies unless you are a large fish in their large pond. 

@Jay Hinrichs I was actually looking at LA as a positive, growth environ. 

Before spending/squandering your downpayment funds on a "guru" course {if you are going to enrol in a college/university course, it's a different kettle of fish}, spend sometime searching, reading and digesting the forum history and blogs here at Bigger Pockets.  

In the post D-F/SAFE environment an RMLO is primarily used to vet the Tenant-Buyer's/Owner Occupant's ability to repay the loan, yes?  

As a landlord with several dozen properties, does anyone utilize publicly traded SFR property rental businesses such as American Homes 4 Rent, Starwood Waywood Residential Trust, Blackstone's Invitation Homes, etc to help gauge comparisons between what us small fish do versus these large landlords?  

I am getting quoted 4.875% which feels high in this environment....not sure if I should bother shopping this rate or not.  

If you don't find someone local, I will be up there in the spring and summer to fish.

I love the positive, supportive and informative environment BP creates! 

While I haven't used it in a Real Estate Investment / Flippping environment, I worked with SugarCRM a few years ago and was surprised at how much stuff can be done on it.