If you are high net worth enough you can get good advice but the advice for mass affluent folks in real estate crossing 2 countries is harder to access in my experience in the past.

However if you invest in properties that are 5 units or more, the bank won't care where you get your down payment from which mean it could technically come from line of credits you have access to or loans from family or friends who believe in your project.

Some may or may not lend if there's a tenant or if they can or cannot get access to the interior of the property.

When you sell a house then you have to disclose your a realtor and having access to the mls is easy without being one it’s also no advantage to get into houses sooner in my experience because if it’s on the market it’s already a lousy deal .

Until it's been added, you can still access the old calculators and generate PDFs from there. 

It helps to have access to the MLS for comps and research.

You will have access to the lowest downpayments (3.5%) with the best interest rates on money. 

Access to each other’s property and maybe developing an easement.  

Did you get licensed to get access to more rental properties to buy or are you interested in real estate also as a career for a broker/agent?

If you want some professional level guidance, access to off market deals that meet your criteria, an amazing tour of the ins and outs of the neighborhoods or just an agent to set you up on the MLS with a good search, this group provides everything for serious investors  (full disclosure - I am affiliated)https://rerecon.com/