I would love to make some connections and get to know more people who could help me along the way!

Definitely a focus area from lenders, conventional or otherwise - theres been a reported uptick in occupancy fraud or funny business lately as rates and values have continued to be so high and qualifying so tough - people are more likely to bend the rules on stuff like this - so this is generally the lender response

As an investor myself, I am always happy to meet and talk to people who share my interests or to discuss real estate in general. 

People tend to think a cost seg is a cure all and just puts money in your pocket.

A jobless rate of 3% or below is widely considered "full employment" by economists, or the point at which most people who want a job have one

Because people skip this and jump right to techniques, we have a huge FAILURE rate of people wanting to be real estate “operators”.  

My advice is to stop listening to the people you overheard. 

Maybe that challenge would make the investing journey seem more "fun" but you are in a position that sooooo many people dream of. 

Some leases are very rudimentary, some appear to be copies of copies written years ago, a lot of people like to add additional provisions.

An elderly lady who owns rentals next door to me has moved away since her husband passed.