Or is through an chosen agent the most reliable link to the actual situation. 

So this is the path I've chosen to follow up to and including being part of my retirement.I believe that networking and gathering real life experience from doing work myself along with following other's guidance (who have been there/done that) will garner me more knowledge and success than paying "gurus" thousand of dollars for bus trips through a city and region I already know well.I am still formulating a 5 year plan (yes, they are passe now a days but I'm old school) and I feel the first steps would be to connect with other REI's, join the local REI Groups and begin growing my network.Any guidance, advice and suggestions from this point forward will be greatly appreciated!

The seller could have chosen anyone for this but yet she have chosen me and i do not want to let her down.........Please give your full an honest opinion i would really appreciate the help because i do not know what to do, there may be another solution i could take that you may know that i do not.

I know many out of country investors and landlords who have chosen to invest in the US market.

Meeting locations are chosen for various reasons, but a group doesn't automatically focus on that specific location. 

I've chosen one specific domain to play within (MF apts) and 2 main markets, but can't seem to bridge the gaps to close a sale.

I gambled, held on till 2006, and sold one for $740K, though realtors say I can get $800K or more.Good thing I wasn't that greedy.

You can also have one person be chosen to manage the project and then that person holds all the funds in the account. 

But I figured I'd gamble on it this time and chance missing a month of rent.

If the owner is not wanting to share critical information then you are gambling.