If you don't know/understand the law, you'll have a difficult life.Then you need to learn 147 other skills like marketing, screening, building policies, enforcing late fees, how to evict, etc.My favorite source for a beginner is Every Landlord's Legal Guide by NOLO.

Extra points for using the word Smithereens. one of my favorites! 

In fact, it gave me the distinct impression that I may never get a deal funded and that it was a SCAM to get my upfront payment (maybe not, but that is the impression I got) - and one of my favorite quotes is "Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get me!"

Check out my personal favorite, Set For Life by @Scott Trench , or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. 3.

My favorite real estate strategy for starting out is always buying a too big house (foreclosure/estate sale, “rent-ready” but with problems like smokey or smelly or painted weirdly), near where I work and and living in it for free with 2-4 roommates.

House-hacking is my favorite strategy especially if you don't have your first home in the market yet.

It's where I live/work and invest and by far my favorite market.1) It's incredibly boring.

I’ve had good success with these methods- Driving around and keeping an eye out for run down properties and sending them a letter or calling them- wanted ads on Craigslist - want to buy signs in a particular neighborhoodWhat are your favorite ways to find off market deals?

There are a few reasons to lower your rent below market. 1) you buy into the false theory that setting rent below market retains tenants.2) you have no confidence in your business skills/you have no business skills.3) you have no idea what your market rents are4) you are a desperate landlord5) you are a hobby landlord and profits are not important6) you prefer to attract lower quality tenants.I charge full market rent and only use M2M leases.

It at least was for me.As my 3 least favorite rental houses became vacant, I sold them 1 by 1 since the summer of '16.They had done their duty and so had I.