thank you BenThank you JohnRegarding self-employment over a w-2 jobWhen I was just out of the Marine Corps and I had this job at Johnson Controls engineering firm because I was a science major, had a lot of calculus physics and chemistryMy job was to sell to developers and builders That wanted air and water  control devices and I was on straight commission basicallyI had like $20,000 in commissions that they  didn't pay me for I got really upset and at 25 yrs of age I didn't have very much EQ, and my emotions got the best me I basically even went to a lawyer and asked  how can I get my 20,000 in commissions here's the proof they owe me the moneyMy lawyer says it's gonna cost you 10,000 in legal fees to sue them at a minimum he's going to need that upfront as a retainerAnd then there was no guarantees I would get the 20 kThat's why I made the commitment at 25 never ever ever be a W-2 employee and I work as a 1099 alwaysThen I found a real estate 60-year-old mentor who taught me everything from distressed property to foreclosures to divorce to bankruptcy to probateI work for five hundred a week for 2 and a half years and then opened up my own business and did approximately 28 seller interviews a weekMy closing ratio in the beginning wasn't very good because I sucked at itBut with the good coaching from my teacher I got better and better and betterI quit after 2 1/2 years and started my own company on a shoestring it wasn't easyBut I made over hundred thousand dollars my first year if it wasn't for the teacher I would not know how to run a business and I would not know how to hire people and I would not know how to market and I would not know how to negotiateAnd you never stop learning because I made a Ton of money I was 29 and I made over 1 million and a quarter I rolled it back into the company which was a mistakeBut live and learn!

I haven't purchased anything in the last 4 yrs.  

Over 30 yrs LE here, your experience will be valuable identifying neighborhoods.Locate and attend 3 different local REIA club meetings great place to meet people gather resources and info.

Do the math early in your journey to keep you from going down the wrong road for 10 yrs before you figure out that the vehicle was not the best one for the task.  

My COC return may not be as high as a property in Raytown or those in the Hickman Hills school district, but being that I'm investing for the long haul as well (i.e. 20+ yrs), I think a nicer class property will fare much better over time. 

Most of 30 yrs first 10 yrs is interest.In terms deals, you need the existing financing info.

Most of the leases are 20-30 yrs in length.I would have first position over the lending bank that financed the building it self is my understanding.The ROI is very good.

These days, 30 plus yrs later, he is much like my father was - never answers the phone and absolutely never talks to a tenant. 

One of the guys was like 33 yrs old and had 25 properties.

And 7 yrs ago.