You said you could go the conventional route and try to get the maximum a bank will let you get on a cash out, however there's different stipulations with a bank cash out refi than a HML. 

@Courtney HamiltonRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Check out Facebook groups!

I'm just starting out.

Thank you for well thought out post.

-Any mentors you recommend reaching out to?

Me personally as someone who went through the crash in 08 I like free and clear doesn’t mean I don’t have any bank financed mortgages but those properties I have pulled all my cash back out of those properties.

A large tree fell during the storm last week and took the stairs out so the tenant has no way to access the unit until we can fix the power lines and remove the tree which we're working on.

Especially starting out you’d get good experience as a landlord and have a portfolio. 

Become a syndication Co-GP by either putting up the escrow funds or by raising money for the true GP where you receive 1% of the GP share of project upside, then create website and social media marketing materials where you hold yourself out as THE GP for the syndication. 5.