According to Tom Cruz hereafter referred to as DB, I wasted 31 years of my life training to become an ortho surgeon but the DB doesn't understand some people enjoy their jobs and are passionate about helping other people. 

Hey @Christopher Morris,I piggyback on some of the others, but I'd connect with a referred lender ASAP to go over your options/budget/pre-approval.

That is how I've operated for years, well before the NAR fiasco and as agents, we have always been advised from referring to status quo, standard, typical, etc when it relates to commissions.It continues to amaze me how many buyers/investors believe the agent value is finding them "deals."

Another option if you're looking for something with higher yield than index funds, that's hands off, and will teach you a lot about real estate investing without having to do it yourself could be investing in syndications which is referred to in the book Jonathan recommended.

Investors should be extremely cautious with Qualified Intermediaries that also represent (and get paid on) replacement property solutions or Qualified Intermediaries that refer clients to their "associates" or "friends" for replacement property solutions so that they can get paid a referral fee or those that actively put replacement property solutions together in order to make money.  

Their character, their payment record, how well they take care of you property, etc all these things are for you to discover with your tenants and build trust between each other. 2. when it comes to screening, you must check their credit, their paystubs, their employer and landlord references, their criminal background, I also get a copy of everyone's photo ID.3.

Buyers are Liars"  And I guess the same can be said for sellers to when they do not divulge items they know. 

Make sure you don’t have any lengthy due diligence items.  

It may be too late.yup stop payment.. also for future reference if you cant pay cash for these kind of educational events don't do it.how are you going to do business if you have to charge this to even get started.. this is the very thing that really bugs me about the real estate education sector in the US>. talking people to go into credit card debt when they know full well only 10% or less of folks that try this or any kind of wholesaling / flipping/ notes / lending etc will do anything .. and especially if you have no capital.

I have personally known Dmitriy for over 15 years, and my company Marshall Reddick has referred him hundreds of clients since then that have all raved about his service, knowledge, and professionalism.