I'm sure there's other pockets I missed as I only spent a few hours spread out over a few days poking around and gathering this info, but for the most part it seems to be a solid place to start for my objectives. 

Persist, don't give up and don't be distracted by other shiny objects along your path to success.Although a little bit riskier in nature, it may be worth considering an aspect of real estate investing that very few people partake in.  

A Google search shows numerous possibilities, some that charge as low s $40.Not sure who is reputable and was curious if anyone has used any of them before that are reliable?

David,Having a home inspector taking a look at the property is a great way to have an objective opinion about any issues that may come up from you tenant as well as avoiding any problem from  municipal inspections if there are any.

Hello BP,My name is Dylan Stone and I'm a former oil rig worker turned licensed realtor from Los Angeles county (yes we have oilfields here) I made the decision to get into real estate after being laid off from my oilfield job and after reading numerous books I figured "If I can work 12 hours a day doing back breaking and dangerous work for somebody else, why not work for myself in an air conditioned office" haha.

It's the only way to "secure" your cash flow.I used to work in the GH area, so I understand the temptation and attraction but don't let the "shiny object" trick you.

For example a newbie may need to look at numerous properties and do walkthrough (before being really ready to pull the trigger) while learning to analyze the numbers in order to know whether or not there is a deal.What would you recommend to be appropriate and how can this be approached?"

May have something to add here as he has numerous vacation rentals in S.

Plus numerous outdoor improvements to improve curb appeal and landscaping, add a dog run, and improve lighting/security. * Over time, we'd spend $7500/unit to upgrade interiors as units turned over.

You need objective advice about that.