Just like everything else in life, get started, keep honing those skills (i.e. keep reading, keep learning, keep attending the meetups) and watch yourself get better and better witch each property you buy.I hope this helps and good luck on your real estate journey!

Almost done paying off my first property and looking to learn more before growing my portfolio of LTR properties. 

And it's so helpful you shared how it went with your drafter and the items they needed to get you going.

People are generally referring to this type of entry as contra-expense or atleast that's how I interpreted.In the PA tax return, this line item was highlighted in Red and hence the question

And, the reason why most people sell the property outright is that there is an immediate need for money, an immediate need for your attention to be with your parent, and no time and money to make the rehab needed to tenant ready the property, much less to learn how to successfully landlord. 

I learned that during the cash out refinance process.

They don't, but they'll learn to if they have a decent size portfolio.

Do they offer a nationwide learning forum where you may view videos 24/7 from the company's best agents who train you for free?

Lots of different issues to learn.  

You'll find that most of them are happy to run comps for you and help you learn how to do that on your own as you go.