Quote from @Lisa Peabody: My husband talked to an agent yesterday and wondering if you all could help to educate me. 

And obviously the Veteran needs to be fully educated on the consequences of leaving their entitlement with the house, but this can be a huge win/win.1.

They will be able to guide you through setting up financing, creating an investment plan, getting subs set up, and creating an execution plan.A good investor focused Realtor should be able to guide you on what markets you can afford, help you focus on your personal risk tolerance, and find a property that fits your skill set and financial goals.The more educated you are as an investor the better, but the right Realtor is going to unlock a wealth of information that is going to super charge your knowledge of investing, and help expediate your plan. 

Looking for some input...I'm working on educating myself more when it comes to various tax benefits and trying to decide what would be the best route for me moving forward.

I am impressed and wish I had the same focus at your age.With all investing, having time on your side is an advantage.You asked about suggestions or things to avoid starting out.The first step is to educate yourself and you are doing that asking this question to a group of experienced investors but much of the eduction can be done on YouTube and the public library.Once you feel comfortable with the basics, I would find an experienced mentor.

We have a few more questions but wanted to see if anyone there can shoot holes in this plan and help educate a bit more on the process.

I’m also networking with investors, lenders, and other professionals who align with my mission of creating opportunities for future investors and helping others gain education in real estate.If you have experience with:✅ Finding off-market deals✅ Creative financing strategies✅ Scaling from single-family to multifamily✅ Investing in South Carolina real estateI’d love to connect, learn, and potentially collaborate.Let’s build together!

Either way, you're the fiduciary of your plan so it's important to make smart educated investments.

Any advice from pros as to what I should absolutely do first to better educate myself and start now?

I recommend you go to the source and educate yourself on all the landlord-tenant laws, particularly in an increasingly regulated state like Colorado.Here's a good starting point: https://doh.colorado.gov/landlord-rights-and-responsibilitie...