Besides acquiring knowledge, I would really like to make meaningful connections through the forums.

@Kheri MouradWanting to diversify my 401k funds in other investments besides stocks and mutual funds sparked my interest in investing in real estate.

Meaning their regular bank deposits and funds on hand are more meaningful to a landlord than a tax return that could claim a paper only loss for tax purposes. 

I don't tell them that I plan to purchase the property because I don't have the courage to do so...)If you mention that you're only practicing you will never get a meaningful answer!

A survey today would likely identify a meaningful population of folks forced into renting property as they move to find work following job loss. 

I started my own business while I was in college, it helps to make college more meaningful if you are in the field doing business while in business school.

I don't have the ability to predict things like population growth, job growth on my own (I don't have any non-census data that would be useful), and I don't believe census data (what most people like to use) is a meaningful indicator, as all it does is extrapolate trends.  

@Pam Porter I'm not clear on what you are specifically asking and am prohibited from responding in any kind of meaningful way. 

So true...one could buy 10% of a publicly traded company without any sort of meaningful filing or large contract.

I raise money in the capital markets to fund my deals because it is obvious that large banks no longer serve a meaningful purpose aside from acting as a servicing agent for gov-mint guaranteed debt.