Instead, you must invest in a purely passive way, such as a syndication.Second, real estate is a tax-favored asset and investing in a tax-favored asset through a tax-deferred vehicle is a bad idea. 

You need a company vehicle for the guy to get there.

We found this lead through SMS marketing targeting tired landlords.

Example, Are they tired of dealing with tenants and maintenance?

Unless of course they were using a SEC vehicle that allowed a certain amount of non accredited. 

I did that with one of my places this summer as I was tired of it turning over almost every year and the ongoing repeated repairs of the same thing by the PM.Yes I totally agree.

(Only if you are SERIOUS about real estate as your wealth/career vehicle.)Make sure you join a brokerage that is large, established, and has a reputation for top performance and excellent training.Once you learn the basics and get out into the field to see the state of the market, you'll learn the price points and be able to know a good/great deal when you stumble across it.I have made some of my best (most lucrative) buys from meeting with a seller who wants to list, and when we discussed the price, I knew it fit my parameters, so I bought it! 

Deal makers- development potential, vehicles per day, road ingress egress off highway, signage potential, multiple road accesses, value add potential- housing- trees, boulders, ponds, walkout, views, right side of town, power-line right of ways, etc6.

Quote from @Jim Reynante: After owning properties C/D neighborhoods with high crime statistics, I have experienced all of the things that go along with it: 1) High turnover rate; 2) Tenants that don't care for the property; 3) Little/No appreciation in home value; and 4) High Crime Rate (burglary, vandalism).I am pretty tired of fixing broken windows, fixing broken doors/locks, and painting over graffiti.

I'm look more for a vehicle that I can place my investment, let it work for me in the background, and I can reap the returns while I go about my career and family duties.