Figure out the best medium in which you meet these folks (in person, LinkedIn, networking groups etc)4.

Because with detailed plans, examination of alternative causes and getting involved even when the trend is not favorable can make a person start making profits from real estate when he is old as well as when he is young.Good luck!

We have monthly in-person meetups in New Jersey for when you are in town.

If you do rent by the room watch out for local unrelated person ordinances.

However, when you rent out a portion of your home, you need to make sure you're properly dividing any expenses you pay to maintain the home between personal and rental uses.

I do believe for what you clarified from your original post that breaking even is okay and you'll be using it for personal use that you can do this. 

Personally, I'd recommend multiple properties, but that all depends on your long term goals.

I personally have success in doing flips with my partner here in Ohio.

Where do I record and store the information for tax purposes? 

Zillow can be fun to deal with.Anyway, the fun part of the Exclusive Agency Addendum" in Texas is this:"If Owner sells or leases the Property to an Excluded Prospect, Owner will not be obligatedto pay the fees due to Broker under Paragraph 5A of the Listing, but Owner will pay Broker, at the time the sale closes or the lease begins, a fee equal to"and an excluded prospect is defined in the very next paragraph:"In order for a person to qualify to be an Excluded Prospect under this Addendum, Owner must send Broker written notice identifying the Excluded Prospect by name, address, and phone."