You can learn the basics here for free.

You’re doing exactly what most successful investors wish they had done earlier 👏A few solid thoughts for where you’re at:What to learn now: Deal analysis, basic finance (cash flow, ROI, leverage), and market fundamentals matter way more than advanced tactics.

As a  realtor I cannot tell you how many realtors have no basic sales skills.

Once you get your head wrapped around the concept of what you are doing, instead of viewing QuickBooks as the dastardly accounting software program where you need to be an accounting guru, you will become more relaxed.  

This is a well-reasoned concept, and I think your framing around tenant psychology vs. pure cash-flow math is exactly where this either works or breaks.A few observations from markets where we’ve seen similar “rent-by-choice” dynamics:The tenant profile absolutely exists, but it’s narrower than it looks on paper.Empty nesters and downsizers do value elevators, low maintenance, and flexibility, but many in this demographic still default to ownership because of familiarity and emotional comfort.

I’ve read several real estate books, understand the basics (NOI, DSCR, cash flow vs appreciation), and my goal is to start building long-term financial freedom through buy-and-hold real estate — ideally small multifamily (2–4 units).Given SF prices, I know investing out of state is basically required, and I’m totally open to that.

Buildium: lease/tenant management, online rent payments, maintenance work‑orders, and basic property accounting3.

A lot of people chase “passive” income without realizing how real estate can impact their current income, too, when it’s structured the right way.To start, I’d focus on the basics of financing.

And that's just an LLC and not a legal construct.Here is what I personally do (after a landlord for over 15 years and also beeing on the board of a landlord association, where we are basically the go-to for everything bad that happens to landlords) I personally only have a few very normal LLC's that are in my State - and frankly are required for commercial lending.

(I’m still trying to understand the basics!)