If you find a Duplex or greater for under $250K and with rents common to the market at or above $1200 a door then you have some cash flow. 

If you're unwilling to charge a common fee, I wonder how you're going to handle a problematic tenant who is late on rent or responsible for paying the plumber to remove a kid's underwear from a clogged toilet.How will you conduct a credit/criminal screening without an electronic application?

Depending on the type of replacement cost (functional, common construction, etc.) you may or may not be able to get reimbursed or replace with the exact materials that were there before. 

My ultimate goal is to build a portfolio of cash-flowing properties to achieve financial freedom.I’m currently seeking mentors who can guide me through this journey and help me avoid common pitfalls.

Are there any red flags or common mistakes investors should avoid when reaching out?

Sub 100k is pretty common still. 

I almost never get calls, most people send a message via Vrbo or Airbnb if needed, but it it much more common for them to just instant book with no questions.

I do however keep a spreadsheet of the more commonly forgotten items. 

Quote from @Anil Shah: Quote from @Derek Brickley: Pretty common, you can definitely use commission as down payment conventional loans and not have it count toward IPC as long as you're on the loan. 

Common sense.