@Brett Wagner don’t forget about the webinars and the book store on BiggerPockets.

Gallinelli has in the book.

What online classes or books have you read to help you get started?

You could also fill any time you might have to continue your education even if it's just reading a book. 

If it is a residential loan type you will have an extremely hard time finding anyone to do it because there are loan standards set forward by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that handcuff lenders. 

I got a standard loan at 5.625%Purchase: 131.4k20% down: 26.6 (24k from 401k)Inspections/ Closing costs: 4,050Rent: 2125 total (1275 up, 850 down)Mortgage: 613Ins&Taxes: 424401k Repayment: 131Utilities avg: 310 (based on 18 month bills)Maintenance: $138 (estimate, will save as capex if not spent)Cash / month after expense : $511Assuming 10% vacancy and some clean up, I’m estimating $5100 a year in cash flow.

In California, the Realtors Association actually created an advisory form just for this reason: https://www.car.org/-/media/CAR/Documents/Transaction-Center/PDF/Standard-Forms/December-2017/WFA_12-17_Draft9.pdf?

Do you have any tips for someone looking to land their first MLA deal, good books, resources?

I have opened an LLC and have started saving for a down payment; while learning as much as I can by listening to Podcasts and reading books and articles on real estate investing.

Is it appropriate to call the seller and try to get information/details/pain points directly from him, or go through the standard channel of the listing realtor?