An alternative could be that you intern for a small development company, with the express purpose of gaining development experience, or at least that's how you should communicate it to them.

I'm sure you've heard the expression: "Quality, Speed, Cost.

I have been interested in REI for some 20 plus years but due to circumstances I won't express here I put those desires to the side. 

We're talking like an hour+ express train to Manhattan. 

That neighbor has harassed my tenant from day one, and has continued to try to establish a friendship which she has expressed multiple times she does not want.Thanks!

Right off Central Express in east Plano.

After expressing to him that I did not want to just work for someone, I wanted to actually do deals on my own. 

Just as a point of clarification, most people build a list of leads that they direct market to in order to create prospects, who I define as people who have expressed an interest in your product or service, or in this case, selling. 

ARV based on recent sales is about $515kMy wife and I have expressed our interest in buying the home for a rental but we have some concerns.firstly financing we know that we won't qualify for conventional financing as we don't have the funds available for a 25 percent down payment for investment property.Second most lenders won't fund a non arms length purchase.Any insight into finding financing for something like this?

However, after sharing my success with my network, friends and colleagues, many expressed interest in partnering up (I find the deal and manage the business, they put up the money/credit, etc.).