Orlando has a very active real estate investing community with many meetups for different niches.

It does make me feel more comfortable as I know the are well as a Real Estate Agent.

Quote from @Kaushik Sarkar: Hi,I am looking to invest first time with a turnkey developer,  who is buying the land and building a multi unit commercial retail center and some apartments.

Brand new real estate investor.

Since this opportunity came up, I've begun to take real estate more seriously as a path to financial freedom.

Not saying it cannot be done but be aware that these programs I have heard good things about but also recognize timing and you may have a great education but bad time to implement

Quote from @Shiloh Lundahl: @Jay Hinrichs so it sounds like you don't feel like you got punched in the face by real estate over the past couple of years. 

Don't forget to annually mark time for vacation or family time.You might consider hiring a teenager part time if there's something that is time consuming (for me, putting out 20 open house signs then picking them up).Best to you!

Knowing the average bP buy and hold investor this type of information would be for advanced investors that deal in the back end of real estate not the front end like most who just want to buy a house for under market rehab refi rent or flip. 

They also benefit from strong schools, which can be a huge draw for long-term tenants.While you may not achieve high cash flow immediately in these areas, the property values and rents tend to appreciate steadily over time, aligning well with your goals.