Rich Dad is a good overview to get you motivated and see options, but it's not nuts and bolts, it's more of a story.

Hope it can give you some ideas.Keep in mind it's not relevant for every single type of house and some aren't complete "red flags" rather just something to evaluate, but this is pretty much the soup to nuts version:Title: Utility liensHOA’sTaxes or SalesNotice of CommencementEasements, right of way, (i.e. shared driveways, basements, roofs)Deed restrictionsMunicipal liens or finesType of deed and is it insurableQuiet title needed?

Wholesaling has been an entry way to some understanding of how real estate works but hasn’t been very fruitful, yet!

When we walked in, the boyfriend was holding a large dog that was going nuts, I’m assuming to intimidate potential buyers.

So I'm going to take him a notebook, todays newspaper (with nothing available for rent in the classifieds), and some fruit; all in a basket. 

I tell him your going to lose your money dude.he tells me I am nuts the last owners were slumlords and did not treat the tenants right.. he is going to put in BBQ pits BBALL hoops  new jungle him really treat these folks nice. etc etc.. he dumps 600k into is so now he is in it 900k plus interest and taxs . his plan get it to 80 to 90% and dump it..

It's a lot of work, but would probably be more fruitful than blasting out résumés on Jobbing or Monster.

As far as learning the nuts and bolts of a transaction it can certainly help.  

I love my job and get paid handsomely for it but I'd like to be independent in the next 10 years so I gotta get cracking.Am I nuts to be thinking this?

Start out with the older neighborhoods in town...That's always the lowest hanging fruit.