Anyone who can provide useful advice would be appreciated.

MLS with an agent How did you finance this deal?

For the crowdfunding and similar platforms that are starting to rise, would the lower returns be a result of the diversification they provide or due to the different risks they come with?

House hacking will provide you with an onramp, though, and make it much easier to get started. 

Duplexes provide privacy, flexibility, and scalability, but strict short-term rental regulations may increase upfront costs and maintenance.

Full Disclosure is Required for Non-Accredited InvestorsIf any non-accredited investors participate in your deal, you must provide them with detailed disclosure documents.The SEC states:“[The company] must give any non-accredited investors disclosure documents that generally contain the same type of information as provided in registered offerings.”This is where having a Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) and Subscription Agreement becomes absolutely necessary.A PPM outlines:✅ The risks of the investment✅ The structure of the deal✅ The terms and conditions✅ The use of fundsA Subscription Agreement ensures:✅ Investors acknowledge they understand the risks✅ They meet SEC requirements✅ They legally commit their capital🚨 Not providing these documents could leave you vulnerable to investor lawsuits.4.

I'm active in the Nashville area as an investor and agent. 

My original plan was to utilize a real estate agent to be my property manager that I met through a Dave Ramsey referral program, but I'm exploring if I should attempt this on my own.  

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Bottom line, provide a notice in writing.