My first time posting as I am brand new to the game.

You’re already ahead of the game given your background in finding deals.

We were just at the game on Saturday, it's a great experience. 

NO skin in the game for the sponsor?

Congratulations, your ahead of the game already. 

Networking is the name of the game, so definitely attend as many local meetups as you can. 

(biggerpockets.com)Real Estate Professional Status (REPS)Qualifying for real estate professional status can be a game changing tax strategy resulting in significant tax savings especially when utilized with cost segregation studies and accelerated depreciation.

I am new to the game, but do homebuilders consider buying distressed properties, tearing down and rebuilding?

What's your strategy when you run into guests who are trying to game the system? 

A few people had rejections late in the game after the initial submission looked good.