Quote from @Mathew Chacko: Quote from @Na Person:  I too was a little skeptical of sending a large cash payment to an unlicensed entity (1031 facilitators do not need a license). 

i'd pick a market close by, or that you have a personal connection to, or that you visit often.chasing cash flow by itself can lead to negative outcomes - for example, these investors bought in supposed "cash flow" markets:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/1215726-break...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/963/topics/1195280-expe...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-balti...hope this helps.

Can this person now be "a real estate" professional? 

I have personally invested in both turn-key and value-added properties. 

best of luck. make sure you are speaking to a knowledgeable person in your area as you might be getting false information

I havent worked with him personally but have received a good referral for him.

H there, I'm a certified international property specialist and while i don't personally specialize n Costa Rica,  have several colleagues who do.  

Being a curious person, I gained an interest in real estate investing due to other classmates being interested in real estate.

Pairing that with relationship-building will help you uncover off-market opportunities and find local experts who can guide you.For meetups, here are a few ideas:Indianapolis Real Estate Investors Association (Indy REIA): They have a mix of virtual and in-person events and are a good starting point for networking with other investors in the Indy market.Louisville Real Estate Investors Group (REIG): A similar organization for the Louisville market, with educational and networking opportunities.Check out BiggerPockets Meetups: Many cities have local meetups organized by investors active on BiggerPockets, and they often include virtual options.Facebook Groups: Look for local investing groups like "Indianapolis Real Estate Investors" or "Louisville REI."

I have only heard of it happening one time personally..