You still need to do your due diligence, hire someone to do a building inspection (ask them to take heaps of photos), and setup an online lender.  

What I saw from big lenders online was noticeably lower but I don't know how that impacts FHA lending. 

We are using an online listing brokerage for the sale since we went over budget on the reno.

I would love to chat with you to share what I have learned about investment real estate down here and give you some pointers that would have helped me starting off.

I completed the online application the same day and later that same day received an email back with a term sheet.

I am strongly considering starting the online courses myself but, like you, I plan to keep my W2 and use my license to save on acquisition costs or to make some money on the side through organic referrals, friends, family, etc. 

Found them off the Quickbooks website under the Support/Find a QB ProAdvisor section and they basically held my hand through the whole process of how to do enter transactions, import my credit card statements online, cleaned up my chart of accounts, etc. 

Do you just find statistics of a given area online, or talking with everyone you interact with, or other ways?

Or simply go to county doc office online search?

My town website has an online search for Land Records So I can find notices of foreclosures, notices of liens, warranty deeds, mortgage documents etc. the day they are filed.