Though I've been an agent for a month, my background in investing has helped me tremendously already. 

Lots of homes here can be picked up around $250k, so the equity growth is tremendous.

BP has a tremendous amount of information to help you, but it is only available if you seek it out.

It has tremendous market share relative to other platforms like Xero and Waves.  

We are choosing cash flow now over cash flow in the future...because our analysis shows that we can generate more cash flow than the cost of borrowing.I value monthly cash flow tremendously because my strategy involves living off of it but the big profit center in real estate is adding value (and then tapping into it).

What I am getting at is if you want to pick up a 12 unit building at a good price and minimize risk, in any market, it will require a tremendous amount of research in coordination with a good team like many of us posting here know how to do and have in place or it will cost you a pretty penny initially to have someone do it for you. 

This site offers a tremendous amount of information, but only if you seek it out.

Send them to everyone or no one as their seems to be a grey area here on whether they are required on residential 1-4 unit deals.Keep a log of the time you spend as they are getting more strict on the reporting to justify qualifying as a real estate professional which as Im sure you know, depending on what you make at your day job can have a tremendous benefit at the end of the year when it comes to rental income. 

My wife and I recently purchased our first turn-key rental property out of state from my hometown of Bellingham Wa (family lives near by and helps tremendously).

Fast forward four years, it has appreciated tremendously, we could live for free if we wanted to, and when we move out it will cash flow.