[I've been inspired by an old friend of mine whose now accumulated 3 units, starting with a place he got a few years back for $120k in Jersey City that now rents for over $1200/mo.. and has appreciated 50%+]Longer term, I want to build a network of local people with varied skills and to employ some of my underemployed friends in a variety of value generative ways.

The internet and cell network blew open the turnkey space, crowdfunding allows investment that were not possible before 2015, you can get a loan on your cell phone at half or a third of the rates available 20 years ago, the list goes on.

good group of folks there and good networking for one in the mortgage industry.. socialist republic of city of Portland is doing some pretty weird stuff to landlords.. 

Many don't have time or the desire to do this so they build up a network of reliable whosalers who do it for them.

I'm no CPA, so I'm not sure. 

I have talked to a couple of small town cpa's.

Or at minimum people you might network with on a friend-of-a-friend basis. 

Work directly with a licensed tax attorney or CPA.

Second, you can network with any real estate investor both new and experienced.

When the dust has settled and you have grounds for concern ask for one and see if the records supplied to the CPA match what you got in the FOIA request.