While I don’t live in Virginia anymore, I’m very familiar with VB and can recommend folks to talk to. 

I know there are some Renatus folks there, but not a really strong presence and I intend on changing that.I spent years digging through YouTube and buying books.

I have seen folks get them done, but none have ever said how long it took.I am curious how sizeable is sizeable.

It seems like a lot of folks use Podio, but I'm thinking about just making a Google Sheet with contact info and using Evernote to keep notes about meetings for active projects.

Can folks provide recommendations on agents willing to do so ?

I always tell folks if you can find a deal that works for you now with rates where they are then if/when they drop you will be miles ahead.  

I say give it a whirl and see if folks are willing to pay for your course.

you can form a little mastermind of folks doing the same thing and support each other.it just doesn't make sense for folks with no experience to partner.good luck

I know a lot of folks that don't want to be buying in Melrose, and on the other hand I know a lot of folks that are ok with it because they're buying a property in NYC for < $600k. 

I have every empathy for folks who are hurting especially from instances that are from outside of their control, but filing bankruptcy to get out of debt that she chose to sign up for and promise to pay for the sole purpose of getting ahead faster (her story, not mine) seems less than ethical and Bigger Pockets promoting it is questionable.