Before spending/squandering your downpayment funds on a "guru" course {if you are going to enrol in a college/university course, it's a different kettle of fish}, spend sometime searching, reading and digesting the forum history and blogs here at Bigger Pockets.  

As a landlord with several dozen properties, does anyone utilize publicly traded SFR property rental businesses such as American Homes 4 Rent, Starwood Waywood Residential Trust, Blackstone's Invitation Homes, etc to help gauge comparisons between what us small fish do versus these large landlords?  

If you don't find someone local, I will be up there in the spring and summer to fish.

Taken from http://www.irs.gov/uac/Form-1099-MISC,-Miscellaneo...Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous IncomeFile this form for each person to whom you have paid during the year: at least $10 in royalties or broker payments in lieu of dividends or tax-exempt interest;at least $600 in rents, services (including parts and materials), prizes and awards, other income payments, medical and health care payments, crop insurance proceeds, cash payments for fish (or other aquatic life) you purchase from anyone engaged in the trade or business of catching fish, or, generally, the cash paid from a notional principal contract to an individual, partnership, or estate;any fishing boat proceeds, gross proceeds of $600, or more paid to an attorney during the year, orwithheld any federal income tax under the backup withholding rules regardless of the amount of the payment.Also, use this form to report that you made direct sales of at least $5,000 of consumer products to a buyer for resale anywhere other than a permanent retail establishment.

I want to be able to pursue my passions in life, and it is yet to be seen if I will find that in the corporate world, but I do feel that REI can be one avenue to follow my passion for real estate and give me flexibility to pursue my passions for fly fishing, snowboarding, and spending time with my family. 

I also plan to do some light farming on it-a fish pond, raise some cattles, plant some fruit trees and vines.Option 1. 

At a high level somebody with a solid job record and credit history with 5 animals (two dogs, two large fish tanks, one lizard) or someone who is very professional and thorough but has had a recent divorce and bankruptcy (would also bring a dog, and two college age working children),  but since bankruptcy appears to have a solid rental history (and mentioned prepaying early)...Thank you!!!

If there's substantial equity, consider the opportunity.If not, keep fishing.

I know I'm just a "small fish" but this is a part-time gig for me and I'm happy with slow and steady investing.Anyway, just wanted to share :)

Interestingly enough, I think hud caught on too and they stopped countering so that investors would stop going fishing. :-)”What do you do to get an edge on the competition?