Quote from @Caleb Brown: I would focus on being an agent first and building that business.

There are always opportunities in buying real estate, businesses, companies, etc., as long as you know (or think you know) what you are in for.

Quote from @Michael K Gallagher: Quote from @A Rao: I invest in land and have done entitlement/zoning and other DD work successfully for years.A broker called me this morning on a property I have on a busy interesection and has a QSR client who likes the location, but does not want to do a ground lease, only a build to suit. 

I use Foremost for my mobile home investing business with the properties I buy and hold.

The local who lives there but commutes 30-60 min to another community because they can’t find a job to support their family in their town.That same local knows that a 4plex would be great on that lot that’s been vacant for 20 years and that there are at least 4 families who could benefit greatly from that development.That local knows that Ryan’s plumbing and Katie’s electrical companies that service 75% of the town really needs a new flex space to use as a shop, storage, and parking for their business so that they aren’t working out of their garage and can hire a couple of locals to work with them at the office and in the field.Development is different in our small towns but if locals aren’t the ones doing it, and developers aren’t coming, what happens to our kids futures?

It would seem that turning a real estate training program into a successful business is very difficult because most of them are not around any more. 

At one time I had over 2000btc, sold a great deal when while was under $100/btc to start my rental business.

Morris business model. 

I am looking to buy my first investment property and have heard a lot about  Fort WayneAs an out of state investor, I am looking to connect with investors/agents in the area to build further knowledge on specifics with the markets and hopefully bring business to in the future!

@Ella Marie, I can't speak on behalf of your market, but in my respective market, competition is tough, and the successful fix-and-flip vendors are often full-time operating businesses.