Once you start to determine those things, it will guide you to the next steps.

Specifically looking for the marketing, but more importantly the steps and leanings for what to do with those leads once I find them - all the scenarios... seller financing, big rehab projects, negotiating with different sellers, learning how to make the right offers...

You made the best first step by joining biggerpockets.

In that email I stress if they are very interested in the Rent to Own program, the 1st critical step is for them to contact my mortgage broker for a mortgage pre qualification.   

@Jorey Bartsch Hey Jorey,Welcome and congrats on the big step.

Is this the best first step to take going into real estate?

There are a ton of ideas, so determining what you are seeking would be the first step in my opinion.

(No matter what you choose, they seem to throw you into every fund that they offer and just tweak the percent.)Personally, I would recommend that instead of investing relying on Fundrise to create a balanced portfolio for you, you take a step back and construct a portfolio of your own by taking the best from all the platforms.

I have 8 units now, but am looking to scale up into 5-50 unit multi-family properties as my next step. 

I'm interested in a remote-access system so that people can buzz in deliveries even if they're not home since we don't have a doorman (and packages get stolen all the time here if left on the steps).