We currently rent in an affluent neighborhood and pay through the nose for the privilege.  

Rich people don't say you're cheating, they ask how you did it so they can avoid paying out the nose like all the people afraid of "cheating."

Whether you call them or write them, it's just a substitute for one person talking directly to another, nose-to-nose, toes-to-toes.If you pursue them by calling, you ought to have a pretty good idea what you need to know and how to direct the conversation.If you do not know what to say yet, then you know that you are not ready to make a call or receive a call. 

Exactly, @James Hamling is also denying that the stock market is nose diving. 

I kept my nose to the grind and tried to get the project completed as quickly as possible.

That's like the "Zombie Loans" where if you "put a mirror up to his nose and it fogs up" give him a Mortgage! 

If its for sale (or not) and you don't have a contract with that developer, they can undercut you and buy it right under your nose legally, or do a land lease with the owner that is selling it.

I had a long day of flying last week during the night in my hotel room i came down with a bad cold.. but I was flying home after my meeting so I was one of those guys blowing my nose 50 times over the 6 hours in the air..

There's still the nosing and the backsplash to do, but I like your idea!

If anyone has some good advice on the best place to put my nose in and start learning I am open to suggestions.