Chicago’s market might not always meet this, but it’s a good benchmark for evaluation.What are your thoughts on starting with a house hack or using a HELOC to fund your first deal?

Check out the events and meetups section for meet ups in your area, they are a great way to connect with local investors. 

Because the owners of Licensing Experts pay ALL CASH, the closing usually occurs 3-6 weeks, which is very fast compared to traditionally financed commercial deals I've seen on Bigger Pockets.The whole thing hinges on their very clever technique of getting existing commercial retail tenants engaged, willing to move into their newly acquired properties who are coming up for a lease renewal or lease expiration, rather than marketing for new commercial tenants - which would take way too long.Licensing Experts is somewhat of a "front" for their Mentorship Platform, as they evidently have many of their own separate entities for which they use to actually purchase and close on their commercial properties assigned by their mentees. 

They’ll check if your property, zoned R5, allows a curb cut and ensure it meets zoning regulations.

And if your average review score is 4, they will probably boot you off the platform.  

So when you need to go check on things, rent units, meet contractors, etc, you're jumping in the car for 6 hours, spending 1hr there, and I'm thinking after a full days's work. 

I purchased a home 2.5 years ago utilizing the New York First Homebuyers Club which gives you approximately 8k in grants if you meet certain criteria, which I did.

I don't think we have anything cooking right now in WI, I'll bring this up in our next legislative meeting.

Start with networking, go to all events you can and follow up with who you meet.

Attend meet-ups.