I recently received an application from someone who is self-employed.

I suggest $1M per location and work up from there.I have a self assessment tool I will DM you that I have put together for my clients. 

Use your time on station to self educate, improve the property, and build relationships with property management companies.

The entry amount is more than I have in my self-directed IRA account.

Major research University in town, beautiful scenery all around, easy to self-isolate and still get out, no crime, and I could go on and on, but I'll stop...

I'm looking to begin my real estate investing within the next few months and I've been doing as much self-educating as I can with all my free time.

This is largely a self-help business - no one can spoon-feed it to you. 

Eric,Most of us would say having some self education is very important in any area you are investing your money in.Using property management to assist you is a way to have someone, that knows the area you are looking to invest in, has access to contractors that are reliable, knows the local laws and frees up some of your time. 

There is potentially a self-employment tax component to flippingwith all that said - that is why it is not in the calculator.

The money came from a self directed IRA and self directed 401k.