The truth is if your investors have no involvement in the operations, If they just put in money and expect to get a profit, you have created a de facto syndication.2) I see a ton of people who just raise money for the syndication. 

One would think that a bidder would pay $45,000 in my example (since they are assuming the first mortgage), but they are actually bidding $225,000.

Hey @Divine Nasikpo,If you have limited cash or assets, there are still ways to start earning in real estate:Wholesaling: While there are mixed opinions, wholesaling can be done with minimal money.

For example, if I send my son money for books, can I do so as a property manager fee so that this is also tax deductible.4) If my son, finds the monthly payment to be to much while he is in school and I end up shouldering some of the costs, how long per IRS rules can I carry a loss on the property.Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thank you.

Investing in real estate in actually starting, managing, and marketing a company. 

Simply put that money in your pocket and save it up for repairs. 

There are actually quite a few Americans investing in real estate in Japan, but more I think that invest only in the US.  

We had a plan to build a large real estate portfolio and then sell it in five years and divide the money.

We will see.Good news....they haven't asked us for any more money....yet. 

Never built in Houston before so take my feedback with a grain of salt but I'd put money on it being impossible to build a duplex from scratch for $125 a foot (including everything from drawings, engineering, permit fees, general conditions, labor, material, landscaping).Out here in AZ the builder cost is going to be $200 a foot at best, but add 20% on top of that for the client cost.