I'm slowly trying to learn about retail and office, in order to diversify out of multi-family or even transition totally out of it.I don't know him personally, but we have spoken and I always see his excellent posts....but,I imagine, the good brokers, like @Joel Owens , build relationships with other brokers, investors, and businesses that are always looking for space...I bet he also, gets involved locally and meets other members of the local community and are constantly networking and trying to build and strengthen their network, in regards to commercial spaces.The right broker, that is competent and concerned about adding value to a transaction, is worth the percentage they are asking for...usually.

At a bare minimum, you would have to target a 5-unit... but if we're focusing on 'how many is too many,' we're kinda missing the point: the first step should be to set goals and then let those goals drive you toward clarity on next steps and property size/type.Regarding investors: I think it's always a good time to build new relationships and strengthen your network, but until you have either a 1) real deal to talk about, or a 2) a model/mock deal that reflects a similar deal you expect to find... then it sounds premature to approach investors about equity capital.Recommend heeding the wisdom from @John Corey @Lane Kawaoka @Chris Grenzig, above.

Also, I am letting my friend talk me out of this and I haven’t even had my shot at it yet to see if I can do better.. maybe he is just looking out for me in the long run.I’m currently working on strengthening my core 4 and reading BRRRR.

Would it be beneficial for me to get my RE license to strengthen my claim to be a RE professional?

They strengthened in many places.

Liz’s financial journey was destabilized and then strengthened by personal tragedy, and so was mine.

For this reason, having more doors significantly strengthens the financial investment; the more doors the merrier!

Real estate is a relationships business, and by giving service providers constructive feedback you can help them improve their game and strengthen your relationship. 

Zalewski said developers have overbuilt and South Florida real estate is no longer as attractive for secondary homes for foreigners, in part because of the strengthening dollar.

If you are doing your own construction and its vacant, or to use some hard money lenders a lot of times and to really ensure the private lenders position and strengthen your proposal, you should get some construction insurance.