High income, low time

[Shiv Jey]

Hello all,

Wife and I are high earners with busy jobs and limited spare time (total salary >$1.2M/yr). We don't live lavishly, pay a ton in taxes, and are making traditional investments. Our savings are starting to grow, on track for about 150-200k/yr (paid off student loans first). I posted here previously after reading a few books on real estate investment, but you guys made it pretty clear that it isn't worth building a SFR portfolio and being a landlord when time is already limited and our jobs are high paying.

Some advice we did get included syndication and getting into apartment complexes.  We are in Seattle where the market is simply too hot and crazy; however, we have family friends in Florida who are already into apartment investing full-time, in Florida, throughout the nation, and even internationally.  I'll be meeting with him in a couple months.

My questions to you are...as someone who knows very little about this, what are some good resources to learn more?  What questions would you ask him?  If anyone has experience in this, what did you wish you knew or did when you were at our stage?  

Also, how and where can I learn more about syndication, getting my foot in the door regarding these opportunities, meeting the right people, etc?  Many have told me that becoming a high earner makes you a preferred investor that opens up interesting investment opportunities, and though I may qualify, I have no idea how to actually find and be presented these opportunities.

[Steve Vaughan]

Before all the syndicators and turnkey people pop out of the woodwork salivating here, I will advise to keep tax benefits and tax impact at the forefront. I used to be a high tax payer as well. Since investing in REI beginning in 2002 my effective tax rate has been negative.

I look for larger apts that can support onsite mgt with low land value.  That's my advice. Not a slice where I have no say, but owning the thing.

Some of mine are 97% improvement/structure and only 3% land value according to the county assessor.  That's good depreciation and good tax impact sense.  Good luck @Shiv Jey