(I also have experience as a sales manager and as a real estate agent, so I'm confident I can make the switch).

With over 20 years of investing experience in the area, I've seen firsthand how Tampa's strong job market, affordable housing, high rental demand, and consistent property appreciation make it an excellent choice.

I have been thinking of starting with flipping a home and gaining experience on what it is like.

@Jesse DickensI have a friend that has a bit of experience in this.

If so, how was the experience? 

You can get up to $1m in coverage for a lot less than you'd pay on that LLC in my experience. 

I didn't make much money, but the most valuable aspect of the experience for me was learning how to find crafts people, acting as my own general contractor, and then learning what order in which to do repairs and improvements.

It is the only way to gain financial independence.I hope you read the sarcasm in that comment.I will assume you have more experience over time than just the 4 units you currently own.  

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

We thought we had to accept whatever was presented to us, but that experience taught me otherwise.