I'd recommend keeping it in the bank until you have learned enough to make intelligent investment decisions.Personally, I would do the following:500,000 - Gold, Bitcoin - Always prudent to hedge your bets.1,000,000 - Cash.

Not sure I am allowed to post recommendations to service providers on the forums directly.

Quote from @Joshuah Baker: Good advice from David, but I recommend starting the other way around.

Recommend you focus on finding a great PMC as they can assist you with buying the right property much more than most agents can.

After talking to my RE agent he recommended a company they use.  

Additionally, if there are any resources or reading materials that you could recommend to help me learn more about this process, I would greatly appreciate it.

I'm looking for an experienced handyman recommendation in Fremont, CA.

Unless they provided you proof of replacing the line out to the street with PVC I highly recommend it.

If anyone can recommend a less expensive brand that they think is great, I'm all ears.

Is there a recommended option for washer/dryer that doesn't require coins/bills but instead takes phone pay or a card, so that both tenants and prop managers don't have to deal with coins and bills?