I have attended many of the online webinars and I have begun to read, and plan to finish, the "Top 20 books all R.E.I. should read" as listed from BP.

I was under the impression working with a HML would read like a cash offer to buyers, and therefore would actually be a leg up over conventionally financed buyers.

With house hacking I have read three months worth of mortgage payments at a minimum.

I've been so up in the air with reading all the pros and cons, I especially worry about people saying to beware since agents can be open to lawsuits when buying investment and representing themselves. 

Been in here just reading forums and people's comments for the longest.

I would suggest that you read the full regulations and anticipate that they city will be enforcing everything.  

For starters, you have the free informative forums to read and learn about real estate.

My score is very good, and I've used the time to safe up and do a lot of reading, listening, and watching RE materials.

This didn't account for an accurate reading of the "half story" on the third floor, or a recently renovated half basement.

So from reading several posts regarding LLCs and REI, it seems pretty obvious that you don't need to, nor should you, start and invest using an LLC until you are much deeper into the game.