This would include understanding how much a bank will lend out, and researching local rental rates and neighborhoods.

Some won't lend on a residential property (less than 4-units) with a conventional residential loan product, while others will. 

How do I become a private lender? Can anyone recommend an investment company that is tried and true and can generate a good steady SAFE return? I hear you can make 8% as a private lender? Totally new to this....

Hard money cannot lend on owner occupied.

I'm targeting properties in the $100K - $200K price range, with the intention of using traditional mortgages for financing.From the outset, I do not plan to set up an LLC; first, because I don't think most banks will lend to an LLC, and secondly because I don't think such relatively small investments will arouse the attention of ambulance-chaser lawyers. 

@Martin Grizzanti I have, in fact I own a rental in Portland, Oregon that I self manage and am part of a syndication in Florida.  

Many members are experts in their respective fields related to real estate investing, whether that is real estate brokerage, wholesaling, flipping, buy and hold, lending, self-directed IRA and Solo 401k investing, or tax and legal guidance.There are some pretty cool discounts on various products and services offered as Perks to BP members that you might want to check out: https://www.biggerpockets.com/perks/pro

We worked with a small regional bank on the consumer side getting conventional mortgage for the first 9 houses after that we moved over to the commercial side due to lending laws. 

Hey Adam, if you have a good job, plan to keep it and aren't particularly interested in swinging a hammer... sounds like syndication / private lending may be a good option to get some passive income. 

A lot of forum members are very knowledgeable in their respective fields related to real estate investing, whether that is real estate sales, wholesaling, flipping, rentals, lending, self-directed IRA and Solo 401k investing, or tax and legal guidance.There are a few self-contained guides that you can access here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guidesThe site has quite a few tools that can be helpful for new members.