Connect with potential local and international investors, businesses, and partners.

I would suggest going local for the first one - I think it's much easier to manage.  

Search on meetup.com for local real estate meetup clubs in that area.You should be able to find quite a few.

Depending on the scale, a local CPA may not be able to perform a full audit.  

Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of your screen and you can search for other MEMBERS or LOCAL MEETUPS.

I would recommend house hacking locally.

Additionally, attending local real estate investor associations can be fruitful, as wholesalers often attend these events to connect with potential buyers.Another method is to keep an eye out for bandit signs in your local area that advertise messages like "we buy houses" or "cash for homes."

I was getting interest rates that were slightly over 7% for a fixed, and I recently learned about the 5/6 ARM through my local credit bureau who I had financed my car through many years back.

I would suggest at least have a chat with some local realtors/investors to familiar yourself with the neighborhood and growth potential. 

Otherwise, you could attend local meetups, join mentorship programs or work with investor-friendly agents.