Since our goal is to scale in real estate and we do have the funds, we would prefer to minimize the deposits and invest into reno where necessary and keep the capital for now for improvements, if they arise.

It is the market you are most familiar with.)2.

2- are there specific markets to look for if one is looking to get into a pre-boom market?

Lets just say that $50K has been carrying in losses from this particular property, this means (according to my CPA) that I can only offset $50K from the capital gain of the sale of this one property.

It probably depends on the specific market and the supply and demand in that market.

It's just that in this market deals are few and far between and I don't know when or even if I could find another deal soon.

My current focus is on securing my first deal under contract using PropStream & Off-Market strategies I am eager to connect with experienced investors who can provide insights or advice to help me navigate the early stages of my real estate journey.

I have a background in project management and marketing, which I hope will help me navigate this space as I grow my knowledge. 

Networking and asking others in your market may be your best bet.

Which of course also means people with access to low cost capital already.