Stick around here. 

We're sticking to buy and holds, bought our first house waaay SOUTH Austin where there is still room for appreciation...hopefully.

This is all new to me and I've been taking in a lot of information past year or so, and have finally decided to stick my foot in the door. 

BP has functions for both of those, you should be able to pickup some solid information and contacts while sticking with the website.I would also recommend trying to find some local events or wholesalers to pick their brains, there is no substitute for direct experience.

I'd bet all MY cash flow that, the way things are going in CA these days, the OPs property taxes will be creating a significant headwind to any appreciation (which is speculative, BTW) over the next decade.I'd take the capital losses associated with the transaction after selling and stick the money in an ETF or mutual fund, then sit on my butt for the next 10 years and get a modest return, all the while thinking of the "lost" opportunities of having to manage my PM, trying to evict a tenant in the state of CA, paying for turnover.If you have a PM anyways, better to invest in a cash flowing market someplace else where the return is positive. 

Look for great deals, go by the numbers and stick to your objectives and you'll be ok, even if you invest in SFR's 

It's a carrot-stick approach of a bonus for finishing early, and a reduction for going over the agreed upon timeframe. 

Stick to your guns because if you give them an inch now, they are going to take a mile later. 

The mistakes that stick out are primarily from the 1st year, especially renting a so-so unit to so-so tenants.  

Stick with BP and stay active, you will be rewarded for your time and efforts.