Hi Amit,What's your background in REI?  

Background: I am a Mechanical Engineer working in Cincinnati, living in Northern Kentucky.

Sounds like you have a great background to get into REI.

Background:  (5) 2bd/1ba units all about 625 sq feet with laundry hook ups and carports.  

There's one dominant realization I didn't learn till around age 30.

I'm eager to learn as much as I can to create the empire I know I am meant to build for myself.While I don't have a real estate background or have all the knowledge, I do know what kind of life I want for myself, along with some great work ethic.  

Don't try to handle this yourself, there is every possibility this person has done this before and knows "the system" better than you do.It occurs to me you might hire a PI to figure out who this guy is and what his background is as well.

So my question is should I try and link up with and shadow/work on a sweat equity basis/offer to help out in any capacity with other investors in my area before I purchase my first deal on my own, or is that route more advised for people with little to no construction and or Real Estate background?

@Bill Gulley with your background I think you may be a prime candidate to answer this one, but others certainly may know as well.

@Duane Gunkler - So, a little background, I got serious about this in June of this year.