We've been interested in RE for years, but always thought you needed tens of thousands of dollars sitting in the bank to even start investing.

I've been having some difficulty finding a bank that would offer an FHA option for a mixed use property (2 residential, 1 store/office).

Every month I carry cash to my bank branch to pay down the balance of my mortgage, I've been doing it in the last 6 months, because I happened to have cash.I know if I do the same thing to my checking account, it could be flagged to the IRS as "structuring" or "smurfing", but does that apply to mortgage too?

Should I get a separate bank account, is there an application, pick the money up or have them deposit it to an account??

This is a good time to be meeting with fellow investors, banks and whoever else might help you find that deal.

1st- Start a partnership and get an EIN number2nd- open up a bank account in your funds name3rd- take capital gains and invest into a buy and hold in the QOZ4th- Collect rent, let the tenants pay down the mortgage and then sell after year 10 for the biggest tax advantageI flip about 6 houses a year- 2 of the 6 flips I will take the profit and put into the Fund bank account then execute one of my option contract that I have for houses that I know that would qualify for QOZ.I plan on buying 4 a year using this strategy but I will also wholesale any properties or opportunities I come across in my QOZ!

Bank orders the appraisal.

I assume I'll need bank accounts for the operating and escrow accounts. 

I am meeting with banks and some local connections I have with real estate agents to start getting a feel on my position financially as well as get a feel for the local market.

Were the lenders traditional (banks) or hard money?