Experience as an investor would give a lot more encouragement.The ability to provide numbers on how your past investments went.

Don't follow others blindly.Realize that your success as a real estate investor depends on your ability to find motivated seller leads...

I still since starting only rely on a handful of pillars for my leads, gives me the ability to focus on what I have and improve.

Examples would be a 3 bedroom with only a stand up shower, a sink in the pantry, a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom with the bathroom between the two bedroom and no secondary access, washer/dryer in the kitchen, etc.Laundry - ability to put in hookups in the basement if not possible in the unit itself.  

My husband and I have been investing for the past few years and are currently selling our house hack duplex that will basically give us a huge capital boost in our ability to acquire more serious properties.

However, I'm confident in my ability to navigate these obstacles if enough resources are available to research and help me through the process. 

Additionally, the more you learn and the more value you provide (capital, time, or skillset), folks will take a chance on you because you demonstrate your ability to be dependable and resourceful.As time goes on and the more you learn, deals and opportunities will eventually come to you because you are "in the room where it happened."

Now we're seeing a bit of the opposite, as the travel market (especially in non-metro areas) seems to be starting to cool off but the data is trailing and based on last year's outlier year.2) It doesn't really offer the ability to comp based on amenities and direct locations. 

My ability as a contractor as well as my desire for REI.

It wasn’t until I read their management agreements and they wouldn’t budge on language around me not being able to visit my property or sell it without their permission or their ability to change fees at anytime without an an option for me to terminate or 12 month term except the agreement survives if any tenant leases in place, which would require me to make my 4-plex 100% vacant to stop working with the PM.