I am just starting on this path and will continue researching, in the meantime, would really appreciate any advice on what are the right questions to ask and who to engage for deeper conversations, thanks in advance!

I'm happy to engage further if you'd like.Aaron Lewis

I would also engage my CPA (who should also have real estate investing knowledge and experience.

I'm a relatively new BP member too and I love your engagement. 

I'm engaged and getting married this June.

If you don’t stay active on the site and engage the community, you likely will not get the full value out of this site.

Continue engaging here on BP and you will meet so many people and learn a lot more along the way.

Engage with other people so using the language of commercial real estate feels & sounds more natural. 

I also believe that if you continue to engage a lot here on bigger pockets you will continue to network and meet people from all over who may eventually want to be a private lender for you. 

You need to invest some time and energy into researching the best books to read on the real estate strategy you intend to use, engage this community as well as your local real estate meet ups, and start building your team and your knowledge of the market in which you would like to invest.