How did you go from buying a duplex in 2008 (which seems like something very attainable for the average investor) to trying to put together a 130-unit deal in 2009 and actually putting together a 270+-unit deal in 2010 (both of which seem "way out of my league" so to speak)?

In just a couple of years if you get good at active strategies like wholesaling and/or rehabbing.If you do that and take the money to help acquire income producing assets you can become pretty "Wealthy" with Real Estate in 5-10 years.As you said still pretty amazing to be able to generate that kind of income and attain an impressive level of wealth so fast and with such a low barrier to entry.

Multifamily is 1 goal i will attain, 3+.

would love some insight from people on both sides of the fence. i am looking to make a career transition from the banking/trading world into real estate development. i think that it might be "easier" to attain a project/construction management gig and, in fact, had a role lined up at one of the bigger firms and passed on it. hoping some of you will be willing to provide some additional insight from both industries. what makes for a strong candidate in each specialty and what the opportunities are further down the line. a little more about me: 28 years old. b.s. business degree from small, private college. living in tri-state region. have always been quite interested in real estate, construction and architecture and trying to map out what i'd like to make of myself for the next 30+ years.right now i am doing my best to learn basic real estate Excel modeling and Argus (as much as possible via YouTube tutorials).  

I attained the remaining mortgage value on the house as well as the bank trustee that will handle the account i assume.

Now all you have to come up with is 650K to pay off the loan which translates into roughly $93K/yr which is attainable.  

The advantages of still being able to easily attain traditional financing because of the W2 job (which pays well) sound like a good idea.  

Hey BP,I've recently attained my RE Brokers License in WA and have partnered up with a fellow BP'er (also licensed), and we are planning to start doing some direct mailings.

As I grew up a little I realized that wasn't really attainable in MA unless I wanted to live out west where there aren't any jobs. 

That will be the best way to exit the rat race and attain financial freedom, in my opinion.