I'm currently on the same journey and am evaluating the same firms but find that their prices are too high for someone that needs basic 101 accounting and tax strategies for a person that is just starting out.

I highly suggest teaming up with a broker who you'd want to build a relationship with and truly understands the ins and outs of different underwriting guidelines.

You make sure your family has food and a roof overhead. 

Everything is highly individualistic and there isn’t a “right or wrong”, but what works best for you and your situation. 1) what is your ultimate goal for your ideal investment property?

Its a high risk business.... however, its a high reward business as well if you play your cards right. 3.

Prices are very high so I am not sure how well you can do in our area these days.McCall is nice, but prices are also very high and it is a bit limited on access in the winter.

Areas like Bandon by the Sea Oregon for example, with one of the top public Golf Course's in the world, reminds me a lot of the Monterrey/Half Moon Bay Area and has attracted high net worth investors in recent years.

I highly recommend self managing.

We typically do a happy hour at a local brewery or rent a suite with catered food/drink at a local baseball game. 

I work with a couple of high net worth individuals who want to get into hard money lending but don't want to vet the deals, find investors to work with, etc.