My current employer purchases narrow body aircraft and leases them to airlines throughout the world so many of the economic principles (prudent asset/liability management, active asset management and conservative cash flow management) and analytical metrics (margin/spread analysis, IRR, ROA, etc) translate well to the real estate industry.I’ve been reading books/blogs and listening to podcasts and 2 things have become evident to me: 1 – the more I learn the more I see how little I know and,2 – there is a myriad of ways to find, finance and exit a property.

It seems that some of these traveling money vacuum companies from the Utah areas are the one's pushing the Bird dog teaching the most. 

My grandfather actually attended the Naval Academy and then became a commercial airline pilot.

Having access to Marriott Homes and Villas, JetBlue/Allegiant Airlines sites, etc has really helped some properties to fill their calendar. 

@Ryan KnutsonHi Ryan,Very good questions, I will first say that coming from someone that never wanted to own a PM company but being an airline pilot and the after effects of 9/11 led me down the investing path which took me to creating my own PM company for my personal portfolio to managing almost 1,000 properties in Texas. 

As for my background, I am currently an airline pilot for a cargo company.  

(Driving is becoming unsafe IMO and airlines are sketchy)- Build my business to support 1,500 housing units for homeless and Disabled Veterans.

I wrote about it in the below article.http://www.reluctantlandlord.net/southwest-airlines-model-my-inspiration/I am finding great shortsales, (albeit they are fewer and take forever) that are in great neighborhoods.

But starting at 8, you can task your child with stuffing envelopes, taking out the office trash, vacuuming floors or even doing door hangers.At age 12, they could do all of the above plus, perhaps, begin mowing lawns at rental properties, cleaning rentals for turnover, perhaps touch up painting.At age 16, they can then answer phones, do some computer work, do some more advanced maintenance and repairs, do bank runs, supply shopping, etc.When my son was about 5 through 9, I paid him $5/hour to stuff envelopes.