Don't put all your eggs in that basket but getting a license (I believe elsewhere I read your husband is a broker in CA?)

My standard is "if your property is currently listed please have your Agent call me"1) Just because it's listed doesn't mean it's non negotiable2) Maybe you can provide a buyer and split a commission 3) Gives you a chance to network and add another pro to your contacts4) Assures all involved you're not trying to poach.

This does put all of my eggs into one basket (Real Estate), but it could be the best way to learn.I would really appreciate any and all advice I can get here from experienced (and maybe even local investors) to help me make the best decision on how to proceed.

They have long reach to get whatever info they would need.In any business there will always be bad eggs.

How "commercial" she may be by  selling a few eggs or a cow or teaching horseback riding will be determined by IRS regulations, "being in the business" of something rather than a hobby type enterprise.

I like the idea of spreading out my eggs.

The point is, you  can't put all your eggs in a basket so you need to be doing more than direct mail. 

If you're wanting to mention within the marketing piece that you specialize in helping people who are this type or that type fine however I wouldn't directly go after the small groups. for two reasons. 1 - they're not large enough to sustain a business model and 2 - I don't want all of my eggs in one basket.

Made a great contact and friend out of the deal, along with a great testimonial and 18 farm fresh eggs!  

They are catching fish in a barrel in the Southern United States, but it just doesn't feel like I should put another egg in that basket, at this time at least.