May negative cashflow until fixed.3) Buy established business: assuming you mean something other than real estate related.

There are 20+ CPAs and accountants on this site that specialize in real estate taxation.

For those that do not feel comfortable enough with excel to build out a tool on your own, I would suggest starting by taking excel courses focused on dynamic real estate modeling.

I would love to hear from those who have actually invested in these areas vs. realtors/real estate agents.  

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Would going to local real estate meet ups be the best way to find potential investors I could partner with?

We pride ourselves in keeping the forums positive, helpful, and focused on real estate (please, no politics, religion, etc.).

Investing in Wisconsin and Illinois is a great move—both states offer solid opportunities for multifamily and single-family rentals.If you’re looking to connect with like-minded investors or agents, I’d recommend joining local real estate meetups or REIA groups in the areas you’re targeting.

.: @Gregory SchwartzThere's nothing passive about passive real estate income.Ain’t that a fact  

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?