The Book on Rental Property Investing by Brandon TunerThese books ( and guide) will give you a solid foundation to start your real estate journey. 

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Good luck with your journey! 

i really curious how professional contractor able to enhance the landscape so the house can be sold way higher than without landscaping....

At the end of the day remember they are the real estate professional, if you don’t agree with the property manager and don’t feel that they are working in your best interest then I would recommend that you terminate the services.  

And to Mike's point, if money can be made, why not do it yourself and self-manage the STR or even hire a professional manager and cut out the middle man arbitrager.

When considering the purchase of a property with existing fire damage, there are several important factors and protocols to keep in mind:Assessing the Damage: Conduct a thorough assessment of the fire damage, ideally with the help of professionals, to understand the extent and impact on the structure and systems of the propertyRepair Protocols: Follow local building codes and regulations for fire damage repair.

I’m super excited to start the journey.

Look for areas with job growth, population growth, and infrastructure development that can drive demand for real estate.Networking and Education: Connect with local real estate investors, agents, lenders, and other professionals to gain insights, knowledge, and potential investment opportunities.

While I have some liquid cash on hand to kickstart my journey, I'm keen on optimizing my resources.Initially, my strategy revolves around engaging in fix-and-flip projects to generate capital, with the goal of transitioning into mid-term rentals.