I am familiar with the meet ups happening in the area (and eager to join those) but am looking for something more personal, formal and consistent (bi-weekly?). 

I am a board member with CFRI, the local chapter for the national REIA and I personally know about a dozen private lenders that are members.

I'm thinking I may need to seal/coat the exterior walls - one person I talked to thinks moisture may be coming in from the walls and getting sucked into the soft bricks.

Which means I may well have been the only person foolish enough to bid on it, among the billions of people with internet access.On the other hand, the fact that the owner didn't pay taxes since 2018 is not a big red flag.

Yep, there a plenty of ways to acquire real estate without getting a bank loan or paying all cash!

The question I have is should I use my personal name in the letters or use a company name with logo and website?  

First, when calling banks target the smallest most community based banks you can first.

Hey BP, if anyone in the Phoenix area is interested in grabbing coffee and discussing real estate, mindset, or personal growth let me know! 

As my avg rental period is <8 days, and I have <14 days personal use at the property and believe I can meet the material participation test, this should be a non-passive activity.Specific Questions on Material Participation:1) Do hours logged for material participation in 2022 include time prior to placing the property in service (i.e. first half of 2022)?

I can personally live with the bathroom, but it definitely needs a new toilet and vanity at minimum.