Hi there,We are just starting out in the Lafayette/crawfordsville areas and looking to connect with some local investors and maybe pick their brains about the area.

my husband and I have a hard time proving income on paper, and we will be filing an extension on our taxes for 2017...thought maybe it would be an option to pick up 1 or 2 more rental properties.

Simple, the savings you get from no interest payments (which isn't a savings to begin with), would have only happened if you reach the end of the mortgage...20 years from now...and, you only get that savings in increments...not in one lump sum.Besides that, it's in the math...you are not saving anything. 

Picked a specific location?

I'm a fan of simple--but thoughtful--physical USPS letters.

This will help you develop an expertise quickly.The RE universe is so big that if you don't pick a niche, you will be overwhelmed very quickly and, potentially, lose interest. 

Would love to pick your brains :).

most of my note investors came from the landlord game and tired of it.. .and many own rentals learn of notes and use their spare cash to start stacking up notes.. this gives them nice cash flow that comes in if rent is missed one month but no headaches of landlording.. although must pick notes carefully of course.. so that's an option if you have cash you can do short term lending for when you perceive it may be a buyers market again for rentals..but frankly many that I have had over the years and I have been doing notes since the middle 80s  they never look back.. when they get enough cash they buy another... also no recapture to worry about.. but no tax write-offs either. 

No scripts, NO cold calling experience.So when all else fails....Pick up the phone!

nope just do a simple LLC agreement with both of you as managing members or you manage him member and spell out the business arrangement in the operating agreement that is simple no need for PPM if its just you and one investor you know.