It's all about the personal financial statement.

Of the two options you mentioned, I personally love house hacking.

Until you work out the bugs in your sysyems and procedures.Or, if you invest farther away, do a personal, physical (not Zoom) walkthrough of the property before you sign off on it.Surprises and out of state investments, don't make good bed fellows. 

Hiring a Manager: Decide whether you'll manage the property yourself or hire a property management company.Tenant Screening: Develop a tenant screening process to find reliable renters who meet your criteria.Legal and Tax Considerations:Legal Structure: Consider forming an LLC or another legal entity to protect your personal assets.Tax Implications: Understand tax deductions available for rental properties, including mortgage interest, property taxes, and depreciation.Networking and Education:Real Estate Forums: Participate in forums like this one to learn from experienced investors and ask questions.Local Real Estate Groups: Join local investor meetups or associations to network with professionals in your area.Continued Learning: Attend seminars, webinars, or workshops to stay informed about real estate investing strategies and market updates.Starting with a rental property while keeping your condo as an investment is a great way to begin building wealth through real estate.

In total we will have 1 LLC and two separate trusts.All that said, I guess my questions are as follows:-We need to set up an operating bank account for renovation work for our new property, should we set this up through the trust, through our existing LLC or just pay using our personal accounts?

Personally, I find my deals on the MLS (in CO, IN & FL).

He has 2000+ units and a 200M development pipeline and is always in the news in my city.My ExperienceI followed him for months and spoke a few times in person at events.

Don't stop asking until you find the right person for your situation.

I personally have used Chase business checking and their credit cards that offer 15-18 months 0 APR.

I'm gonna play a small hand and see if I can get a counter offer accepted for the 2 empty lots next to my personal home.