Real Estate (QuickStart Guides™ - Finance) 3.The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth With Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing (BiggerPockets Rental Kit, 2) 4.Airbnb For Dummies 5.

You see, most of us on here have a better form of financial intelligence than the average bear. 

(almost all contractor hires will be "Take a Chance" until you've used them and they have proved to be a good fit for you).When you talk to the contractor, ask for (3) references from jobs they have done like yours in the past (1) year.Then call the references and ask about their experience with the person, quality of work, etc.For many trades, going in person to see the referenced work is intelligent.

I’m getting ready to start a certification program focused on data science. Anyone using those disciplines as part of your REI systems?

Emotional Intelligence is pretty good too.

I don't know if there are already Bigger Pockets Meet-ups in LA or not, but I'm looking to chat with anyone about the industry, getting started intelligently, and  long-distance investing.

In the past year, I’ve increased my intelligence points in this field.  

If someone answers questions in a thoughtful, respectful and intelligent manner with strong subject matter expertise, you can be somewhat assured that person or company takes their business, their reputation and career seriously and won't be a fly by night scam artist. 

There really isn't an argument here...not an intelligible one, anyway...Your friend is rich right now and makes more cash flow from his current holdings than you will with 50-financed properties...roll in appreciation and he is set for life...and his family...and their kids...

The 9 Month Investment: A Passive Investors Guide to Achieving 10 Years Worth of Wealth Accumulation in Only 9 MonthsThe Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down: Real Life Strategies for Investing in Real Estate Using Other People's MoneyThe Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth With Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate InvestingThe Buy and Hold Real Estate Strategy: How to Secure Profits in Any Real Estate MarketThe Millionaire Real Estate InvestorThe Real Estate Game: The Intelligent Guide To Decisionmaking And InvestmentThe Weekend Millionaire's Secrets to Investing in Real Estate: How to Become Wealthy in Your Spare TimeTrammell Crow: A Legacy in Real Estate Innovation: A Legacy in Real Estate Business InnovationWhat Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow...