(exclude training or joining a team)....What tools would you need? 

I am currently unemployed and looking to turn my financial situation around, "I have had it" as Jim Rohn would say, the power of those four words.

Good morning James, take a look at the BP rental property assessment tool on this site.

I'd say you are on the right track, but don't underestimate the power of a follow up mailings.

Hey Jacob,My team and I currently manage apartment buildings in a few different areas of the County and have the infrastructure/man power to take on more with relative ease.  

They can work because they want to and not because they have to and that's a very POWERFUL thing in life. 

We do shipping nationwide and moving the the west would help double our production power and take advantage of lower shipping rates to the west.

But if you take out a 15-year now and rates go up, it could hurt you to refi to a 30-year.There is a good analysis tool on KellerINK that helps determine how much to set aside for repairs, maintenance, and capex.http://www.kellerink.com/products/holdThere is also an analysis tool here on BP that does the same:https://www.biggerpockets.com/buy-and-hold-calcula...

I was just looking at one of the calculators and was wondering if using my own house as a template would be a good learning tool.

@Matthew Fleming there is an assignment contract in the tools section on bigger pockets under forms.