@Stacey AgustinI would strongly recommend participating at least at some level in your employer 401(k) plan. 

You should start by reading this article I wrote: How Canadian Can Investors Participate in US Real Estate SyndicationsAs a multifamily syndicator with Canadian investors on both coasts (and a few provinces in between), your first step needs to be getting in touch with a cross-border CPA.

I know they pay to be members and thus get the right to participate but what about learning about their rules BEFORE making a commitment to buy in?   

Do you participate in the Inland Empire REIA? 

If I could start over again, I would recommend finding a property manager who is a prolific investor as well and pester them until they gave me a job.I would definitely get my real estate license and I would practice property management.I would then focus my week with these proportions:50% Making an income as a property manager25% Meeting with power partners (people you want to partner with, investors, property owners, mortgage brokers, real estate agents, contractors, etc) with the goal to find an investor who wants to put up the cash to participate in real estate deals with you.25% Searching for, analyzing deals, and purchasing deals (you can share these deals with your power partners).After a while, you can quit your property management job and then focus on being an investor.

I wanted to see if there were any landlords that have in the past or are currently participating in the Rental Partnership Program with military bases near their rentals?

Recently I participated in a three days property investment workshop from Legacy Education (Rich dad poor dad) which ignited my interest in REI in the US.

With seller and/or lender participation you can get in with little to no closing costs.

@Rupert GrantGenerally if you're eligible for a Solo 401k, it makes sense compared to a self-directed IRA for many reasons: Compared to an IRA, Solo 401k contributions limits are roughly ten times higher.There is no custodial requirement for the 401k.You don't need the additional expense and administration of an LLC to have checkbook control.You can borrow up to $50k from the plan; IRAs do not allow participant loansThere is a built in-Roth component whereas IRAs are either traditional or Roth, not both.A spouse can also participate in the same Solo 401k plan.The Solo 401k has additional tax benefits over an IRA when investing into real estate using leverage.The penalties for prohibited transactions are less severe, though it's best not to utilize this benefit :)The one exception I can think of is if your primary goal is to self-directed Roth IRA funds.

Would you participate in a platform, similar to Airbnb, that was designed strictly to target these customers in our area?