Some people do; some people don't. We bought a number of houses before we started an LLC. Financing is different with an entity, and we assumed we would be slowed down on doing deals if we used an entity. Nope. Just did deals differently.
We were military and wanted someone who could represent us anywhere we went, so we used an Enrolled Agent as our CPA, and were never disappointed.
Some people do; some people don't. We bought a number of houses before we started an LLC. Financing is different with an entity, and we assumed we would be slowed down on doing deals if we used an entity. Nope. Just did deals differently.
We were military and wanted someone who could represent us anywhere we went, so we used an Enrolled Agent as our CPA, and were never disappointed.
I don't see a need for an LLC for your just one property. Get good insurance. Go to your local meetups to get referrals for a CPA. You're best off finding a CPA who also owns rentals.
Search around or scan through BP threads. This comes up often.
In general, to start buying personally is fine. Get homeowner/landlord insurance, an umbrella insurance policy perhaps, and keep your property in good repair.
If you really want to go the LLC route, you would write your offer with the buyer as "trey smith or an entity to be formed" so you can form your LLC after the offer is accepted. Also, remember LLC's, any legal entity, are not eligible for conforming residential loans. You'll have to get commercial lending. LLC's don't have any tax advantages unless you are investing with non-spousal partners. For the limited liability protection it adds extra costs — "you get what you pay for."
@Account Closed You don't HAVE to have a property in an LLC. If you get insurance (which you'll have to if you get a mortgage) that will have liability coverage. If you want additional legal protection, you can put the property into an LLC. Just be aware that there are costs and fees associated with this.
Personally, I just have an umbrella policy for all my personally owned properties, which gives me another layer of protection. Also, keep in mind that an LLC does not make you legally bulletproof.
Regarding the CPA, I would hire one that is knowledgeable about real estate investing.