Take the basic course requirements, complete the modules, and when its time to register for the state exam you can order a real estate exam question workbook from Amazon and use that to practice. 

What are some practical actions I can take to get started?

Smart guy with the most practical advice, some great books, and he started in California.

One of the things we foreign investors love about investing in real estate in Mexico is the fact that real estate taxes are practically 0.

Most LLCs are set up for liability protection or similar non-tax reasons, and especially in CA, the penalties for "non authorized" practice of law are steep that a lot of CPAs will not even form the LLC for their clients. 

"I was looking at get my property rented by the room to college students or Veterans" but I don't actively see this happening often.

Disclaimer: While I’m an attorney licensed to practice in PA, I’m not your attorney.

I also hope to build my network of lenders, contractors, etc.My highest priority currently is learning and practicing to identify and analyze properties.

I know there is all this talk about the Olympics coming but on a practical basis that has no effect on you unless you do STR, which you typically can't in a rent controlled property.3.

While the “debt to equity” practice may not meet MY PERSONAL definition of “fair”, in and of itself it is not illegal, unethical, or fraudulent.Truth is if the posters warning about the subject have accurately portrayed the specific situation, there is cause for concern.