I hope to ultimately be involved in owning my own properties & being involved in some flips.

I believe investment diversity is a good thing. 

I hesitate to involve family with money matters even though a lending partnership could potentially benefit both sides -  I just prefer to keep that separate.

But there is still the cost involved in material and timeIf you do your own maintenance,  then the labor cost is on you.Wood gets scratched up no matter how well you try to refinish it more so that a flooring product that has an AO or double layer of ceramic bead that is factory applied, such as LVT's.

I am interested in learning more about real estate, as it is something I want to get largely involved with in the future.  

IMO, I don't comp the Cap Rate to the cost of money; I comp the Cash/Cash.This is my ROI even though OPM is still involved. 

@athol dickson I'm a Jacksonville local and involved in Real estate partnerships with a fix and flip and some wholesale deals.

And as far as mentors, there are some amazing people on bigger pockets, just get involved in the conversations and you can't help but be mentored most of the time.

Currently involved in Assisted Living properties in Arizona.  

For all BKs, there is a process to have an asset withdrawn from the case, but only a debtor can invoke that as a protection of their equity.A investor can become involved only before the filing or after the discharge.