I want to grow my 35K into a more substantial downpayment while educating myself on REI and preparing to make good decisions in an increasingly expensive city.If you were me, what would you do with this money?

Be prepared for that possibility too.

How do you prepare for tax time over the course of the year?

Just be prepared, have your W2s, any tax returns, and bank statements. 

Surely you will have the lease reviewed/prepared by a real estate attorney and consult with a tax professional.

I worked for RPM Wichita from May 2015 to November 2015 to help me prepare and learn more about property management before my fiancé and I opened our own company.

To me, "negotiating strategies" has the connotation that you are preparing for a fight and the main objective is getting the lowest possible price. 

I recommend doing the math yourself as it's a very good idea to be prepared at what costs and income you will have. 

Did a little search on the best sources and I found this website to help learn and prepare myself.  

As the old saying goes, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.