I still do not have plumbing that drains for my washer.

There are a number of different ways to fund deals, much like there are a number of chess pieces, each have their own way of moving, pluses and minuses of use, and ways to combine them with others.  

Do you build more confidence with a combination of experience and knowledge?

So a combination of restaurants, bars, retail, offices, and family destinations.

Most investors who scale end up with some combination of all of it (hold some, flip some, refinance some, trade up to larger properties). 

I was collateralizing a total of three properties with a combined loan-to-Value of 25% of AS-IS!

Try "Boston Real Estate Investors" or some combination of that and you should get several page suggestions.  

4) Any recommendations with regards to brands/models of appliances (fridge, oven, washer/dryer, etc.) that are the most durable and cost efficient?

Personal property: In an unfurnished rental, you may have very little property that is not part of the real estate -- maybe just a refrigerator, washer and dryer.

Usually, the issue was that the seller got in over their heads, paid too much, underestimated the rehab, or a combination of things.