Is the podcast just referring to annual fees/taxes associated with the existence of the LLC itself or is there some tax levied on income at the LLC level as well? 

In most offices you are free to attend even if you are not associated with the office. 

Is there financing associated with the purchase?  

Also, hard money loan interest rates can be based on supply and demand, the risk associated with the asset or borrower, or even the speed at which the loan must be funded.

As you've probably seen, there's a wealth of free information here on BP in the forums and also the podcasts are great.I also recommend getting out to a local real estate investor group/association, such as the RI Real Estate Investors Group (rireig.com) or Black Diamond Real Estate Investors (blackdiamondrealestateinvestors.com).And of course if you have specific questions you're welcome to post them to the forums too :)

Can't say for sure in that exact situation, but experience has shown me that 9 times out of 10, freezing issues are associated with air flow/infiltration more than just poor insulation.

He has been over extended and is currently facing the potential of losing his primary residence if he is not approved for any of the government programs associated to helping homeowners who are underwater.  

White papers" by an ALTA attorney (American Land Title Association) the guidance and authority for title insurance pointed out legal issues with quit claim deeds and breaking the chain of title as well as legal issues with CFDs. 1.

In that time, I've paid a nominal fee to a local real estate investor's association for mentoring; obsessively listened to BP podcasts;  spent hours pouring over blogs; and spent hours more watching YouTube videos on investing... 

You may want to join the Washington Landlord Association, we find value in the newsletters, documents, and screening service, and they offer a lot more than that.Ocean Shores is an interesting area, it has some really cute pockets.