With any luck you're going to be on the planet another 80 years or so, and maybe more.

Starbucks, planet fitness, restaurants, etc..) strip malls in SC, NC, and VA.  

hey hey hey, welcome to the biggest hodgepodge of REI information on the planet! 

Obviously the rates on those refinances are going to be higher because nothing on this planet can touch a VA loan in that regard, but if your goal is 0% down, that'll to do it.

I am trying to immerse myself into the real estate world, and I am greener than green, however Greensboro is home and I'm happy to help and to try to answer any questions you may have about the area. 

Nothing else is needed to explain no ill will because your doing your job and less guilt you have to feel while trying to validate your fee when given the sadest sob story on the planet.

Of anywhere in the world, Orlando has the strongest short term rental market on the planet.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence :) I do feel you with the point of view about how it seems in the US they have it easier/lower barrier to entry, Also it is true that prices are quite high specially in the core areas at the moment. however opportunities to make yields are still there in Canada.

The biggerpockets admin team has done an amazing job steering people to the most informative site concerning real estate on the planet. 

Real estate is no different than any other industry: you need to know what you are good at, where your strengths are, and what clients want (clients being buyers/tenants) and fill that void.There are syndications that continue to succeed and there is the syndication that sent 3,200 units back to the lender last month.There are SFR owners that are doing great with turnkey properties and there are those that are selling for a loss and will likely never be in the space again.You also have companies like Motorola that had the hottest phone on the planet in the early 2000's with the Razor, that had their mobile division nearly bring down the whole company in 2009, until the split.