Coghill they are trying to take care of several things:1) Approval to access credit reportsA video tour of my home office (required by the credit repository to show security, so access to office & computers is limited to avoid data theft)Credit checks on me and my partner (required by the credit repository to make sure you are not criminals looking to steal others' data)Copies of the deeds for every property we own (required by the credit repository to confirm you aren't just self-serving)A copy of my partner’s home lease and utility bills (required by the credit repository to prove his legal address, so they can pursue him criminally if he steals data)Business phone bills (required by the credit repository to prove an actual business)2) Approval to use banking ACH system to accept tenant payments and pay ownersBusiness phone bills (required by banking industry to prove business legitimacy)A signed letter from the bank verifying our accounts (to prove legitimate business banking accounts.

The real estate investing industry uses "Classes" to rank property performance risk, but there's NO agreed upon industry model:(Here's what we use for our Metro Detroit market:Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

I am looking to connect with people in the industry who are proactive and looking for their next project.

Since most people who are not actively seeking a sale are not motivated to sell at anything other than a top of the line price, this is going to be a numbers game of x thousands of contacts for every potentially doable deal.  

Additionally, I've been spending a lot of time evaluating condo / HOA management solutions and accidentally stumbled on ManageCasa, which offers a free trial and < 3 unit free tier that has allowed me the time to get in, kick the tires, and really appreciate their attention to detail and broad feature set that adapts to each unique industry sector.

If you’re looking to invest in your backyard, it helps to network with as many locals in the industry as you can.

It doesn't matter the company you work for as long as you are part of the real estate industry. 

If I had the business headquartered at some commercial or industrial space, I could deduct the entire cost of the space. 

Do you have a particular system or software that’s been a game-changer for you?

Howdy, I have been in the game for about 10 years now and have mid seven figures of real estate assets.