Both will probably help you as you jump into real estate.A few tips that may be helpful to you here on the Bigger Pockets website as you start building your portfolio:You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about Jacksonville (or the specific neighborhoods you're exploring), you'll be notified.

@Derrick Gordon   Professional contractors bid jobs that includes the materials .  

I would like to go in looking like a professional with a package to covers all the requirements.

2 - Contact a Lawyer:   You need a professional that specializes in Real Estate Law and RE Contracts, and...3 - Pray.   

These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.

As for a good lawyer in Rochester...ask @Mark Cumbie he's the RE professional of Rochester. 

Birmingham has proven to be a big destination for young professionals with degrees - a group that  starts more businesses at a younger age than previous generations.

Also, maybe someone could reach out here and explain why they got the license when being a "real estate professional" wasn't the end goal?

Not a deal breaker in most cases, but be sure to be aware of this and discuss with your CPA tax implication that your IRA will owe if you decide to go this route.Self-directed 401k on the other hand is exempt from taxes on leveraged real estate, therefore if you are eligible you may want to explore this option. 

That is, don't buy any notes at first.Instead, get good at marketing for notes (that is, finding notes through either direct mailing from purchased note holder lists or networking through professional referral sources)-- I like the preformingnote space (the "ma and pa") note holders as I am good at finding them and I'm used to dealing with these types of people...a lot of the time, they need guidance and that's where I come in.