I do not intend to just sit on the sidelines...I want to be knee deep in the business. 

Personally I like working with agents who are or have been investors themselves (with a strategy similar to mine) and have a deep understanding of the micro market I am targeting.

At least they are licensed and have access to MLS.. and because they have been in the game for years they fully understand the transactions and have some pretty deep pipelines..

The returns for their model have shrunk so much the only thing that saves them is deep pockets.

As an alternative to a pantry closet, you may want to consider a pantry cabinet which is less deep, but easily accessed.

For FL the Well Price seems high, are you needing to go deep with it?

@J Scott  you know me I only read to about line 3 then send in my 2 cents.Developing if you trying to do with really no real estate background is a pretty difficult thingfinancing would be next to impossible unless you had very deep pockets.finding partners same thing.. no way with no experience.. would need the old friends and family route to go through your learning curve

Deep down if we can help to motivate and drive others that share our interests can we not all share in the collective of real estate and it's greatness? 

I’ve done my preliminary work on it, to the point where the next big question that needs to be answered is financing – otherwise I’m wasting mine and everyone else’s time by getting really deep into due diligence.

the reality is any where in the nation were cash flow cannot be achieved on a starter investor level or with a SFR that area is prime grounds to sell out of state cash flow.the mid west deep south rust belt and to an extent FLA are the areas of the country were you can buy a single home  ( starter investment) with the least amount down  IE 15 to 30k  and have it cash flow.