Would a title company have the entire list of transfers for a particular county or city, or would they only have the properties they were involved in. 

If you have a great deal, you can work it so you have very little of your own money involved.

I hope to ultimately be involved in owning my own properties & being involved in some flips.

She says is just two hours worth of work but I tend to disagree after looking at the existing trim in the house, all the trim from the floor to the ceiling needs an overhaul to look new again.In the five years they lived in the home the owners replaced or renovated the following:AC, dishwasher, windows (double paned with blinds in between panes, can open to reach the blinds), flooring (throughout was very nice but I'd replace the peel-n-stick with laminate so it would be laminate throughout), sheetrock, texture, and paint throughout, ceiling fans and light fixtures throughout, sinks in both bathrooms, chain link fence dog run added, and a storage shed.Other positives:  I talked to neighbors and they are very happy living there, there is a beautiful and big rec center, gym, kids playground, monthly potlucks, people wave to each other as they drive by, there's a craft group that meets, etc. 

I hesitate to involve family with money matters even though a lending partnership could potentially benefit both sides -  I just prefer to keep that separate.

But there is still the cost involved in material and timeIf you do your own maintenance,  then the labor cost is on you.Wood gets scratched up no matter how well you try to refinish it more so that a flooring product that has an AO or double layer of ceramic bead that is factory applied, such as LVT's.

I am interested in learning more about real estate, as it is something I want to get largely involved with in the future.  

IMO, I don't comp the Cap Rate to the cost of money; I comp the Cash/Cash.This is my ROI even though OPM is still involved. 

@athol dickson I'm a Jacksonville local and involved in Real estate partnerships with a fix and flip and some wholesale deals.

And as far as mentors, there are some amazing people on bigger pockets, just get involved in the conversations and you can't help but be mentored most of the time.