Deal specific!

I recommend honing in on one specific strategy to get started and then go from there.

What specifically are you trying to get better at? 

Based on how many people have moved here from other states (specifically California, Oregon, Washington, and then a few areas like NY/NJ) along with the amount of redevelopment projects and the chip factory that was put in - I think there will be further appreciation for the foreseeable future.Will Phoenix economy be depended on this chip factory?

Do you have a specific area of Chicago where you would like to live? 

It may be similar to other commercial lending options, but it really depends on the type of property and the procedure of the specific lender you're working with.

I had specifically asked for numbers including mortgage payments and they emailed to me.

Baselane is a banking and bookkeeping platform that was built specifically for real estate investors.

I am not an expert here but my thought is that you would learn a lot by getting your license and have more credibility in the industry at large so if your time and finances allow- get that license:)

Credit Karma uses a Vantage scoring model (which we do not use in the mortgage industry), but the trend will be the same as mortgage scores.