Illinois Firefighter trying to build a RE Portfolio

[Jake Chenoweth]

1. My wife is super against REI and I've tried to get her to look into it but she has not been persuaded. What's the best way to persuade?

2. I have some deals that I’ve been looking at in the town I live in and think they’d be a good opportunity but I don’t have the capital and tried find a private money lender but no luck yet. I can’t put 20% (~ $17,000) down what is the best way to do this deal, barring I talk my wife into it?