I spent my first 6 years in the financial planning industry working for a firm that had previously sold a lot of privately held REITS that went south.

Build a strong network of mentors and industry professionals! 

But I'm still suspect about Cumberland because of the low income and stagnating industry and economy.

Right now, I'm working with a team that helps find off market properties for investors which has been a great way to dive in and connect with experience professionals in the industry.

If they were so successful in the industry, why would they give all that up to mentor?

Sadly, this price-gouging behavior has become the unfortunate new norm in the insurance industry.

Most banks/credit unions use 20-25 years to calculate the P&I payment (aka Debt Service).Lastly, the LTV "standard" is relatively fluid in the industry.

Because later on, if you want to get a business line of credit, apply for grants, or pivot into a different industry (like buying an ice cream truck—hey, life happens), you can use the same LLC without lenders or banks assuming you're only doing risky real estate deals.

When it comes to finding good wholesalers, a few approaches have worked well for me and others in the industry:1.Local Networking & Meetups:Check out local real estate investor associations and networking events in the Akron/Cleveland area.

That shows real estate can be possible for anyone; in my opinion, I know everyone has unique and challenging situations, but in principle, anyone who can follow some basic budget fundamentals can save up enough for a down payment.Grateful BiggerPockets continues to bring more people into the industry!