Currently when I meet with real estate professionals, interview contractors, discuss investing in real estate with friends/family I cannot write off any of the expenses on my income taxes - some of my friends who own businesses write off a reasonable # of meals (where business is discussed), they also write off their vehicles and other expenses that pertain to their businesses.Any insight from REI's who have experience? 

The question is if there is enough meat on the bone for you to miss out on $7k and still be fulfilled at the end of the meal.

To do this, I'll need to syndicate the deal, which meals I'll need to possess a track record of success in (I'm assuming) smaller deals.

@Rhonda Shrum  generally speaking paid training is what it is.. its up to the individual to get out of it what they can or need.there are many who owe there careers to everyone of the GURUs  and there are many who buy the programs and do nothing with it ( majority of people).. and yes Account Closed program.. its all just information that you can gather piece meal or pay to have some one put it in front of you.The core issue and why people pay to do this is they want to get there fast and since they don't want to apprentice at it.. they think this jump starts them.. and with some it certainly does some of my top clients that I have been funding for years started with these companies... but then again my position is the one's that are success's would have succeeded NO matter how they went about it. there are just winners and there are those that just will never do anything In Real Estate whether they pay for the training , troll on sites like this  become an agent etc..

Jason, others may have had a different experience but in my personal experience hard money lending is - like much of business - built on personal relationships.I would recommend you start going to a local REIA such as the RI Real Estate Investors Group (rireig.com) or Black Diamond REI (BlackDiamondREI.com) and network, maybe identify a few promising folks, take them out to coffee or a meal, etc. and just look to start building a few relationships and identifying good prospects.Then when you have a deal you're looking for a lender on, you'll have a few people to start asking and maybe if they don't know someone they can recommend you to someone else in the group (one of their contacts).People are much more comfortable recommending people they already know and have "vetted" as having a minimum amount of knowledge, so that's what you'll really be trying to do - establish that you've educated yourself, didn't just get out of your first seminar last weekend, are committed to real estate beyond this year, etc.All that said, if you think you really have a good deal and have a compelling case to make to a lender*, by all means announce it at one or more local REIA meetings and you may end up making a connection right away.But if you don't already have a good deal & value proposition for a lender then I'd say go the long-game, relationship-building route.

I've been looking for books and forum posts on the topic and am not quite satiated yet.From what I've read so far here are a few factors (all within a local market):-Stable or rising prices equate to a healthier market-Limited foreclosures (I don't have a figure but below national average is preferable.

This way, you'll also find out if waiters collect on all meals served, or they pocket the money.So I've looked into various businesses, and real estate can operate passively, and a relatively small investment.

Will become your best friend and buy you expensive meals.

. - My wife is an accountant- I have great access to Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Atlanta with free airfare, meals, and lodging.

If they are paying for a dorm/meal plan maybe you could find a quad or duplex and they would be willing to co-sign or buy it and let you manage it for free rent and experience?