I did learn a lot about taxes and appraisals and really wanted the fundamentals which I learned.

If they don't understand the fundamentals of capital generation and  spending less than they earn (most of them probably haven't even earned yet), they won't grasp the importance of your role as a real estate investor in their community, not to mention the number calculations behind a deal.  

Focus on those that have strong economic and demographic fundamentals.

Meanwhile construction, design, utilization of the space are fundamental in real estate development, none of that is possible without capital.

Keeping in mind that you'd be moving unsecured debt (no collateral) to secured debt, I would recommend doing what you suggest if you confident in your employment situation during the time horizon that it would take you to pay down $27k, and if you are confident that you will not run up more credit card debt now that your balances are freed up.Beneath enjoying the entrepreneurship of it all and investing in something concrete, you fundamental goal is to do better than you are doing today.

I am currently studying the fundamentals of the real estate investing game (i.e. realtors, investors, HML's, PML's, financing, etc.) and I have yet to build a network.My goals are to have wholesaled 6 homes by the end of 2015, rehab and flip 2 homes by the end of 2015, and grow a network of buyers, realtors, lenders, contractors, etc. for the years to come.My reason for joining BP is to step up my networking.

You mentioned the area is rural so its critical to really measure the growth potential and market fundamentals.

I will say I think any business that relies on deceiving the people you work with is fundamentally flawed.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad was one of the fundamental elements that sparked my start in real estate as well.

Phoenix is our top market right now, but we're also looking in other markets that have the fundamentals we like to see, and where we have local connections.