I'm looking for long-term wealth accumulation and for the near-term tax benefits.I'm hoping that I can extract some good information from everyone here and hopefully contribute some of the same at some point.

However, he wants to keep the whole $500k so we have to get our hands dirty to extract the equity.

We all desire to be in the real estate space so we should all learn the rules before we dive in over our heads or say the wrong things on the first or even the last conversation.Lets work together to make the market that feeds us appreciate us rather than enable them to think we're here taking a property from the neighbors grandparents or great grandparents. 

Under no circumstances should you apologize , that's enabling behavior which facilitates their continued disfunction.I'm going to say Berkeley rivals SF and Portland in the professionally offended dept.

I love all these people because all enable me to learn and be a better investor.  

And may enable smaller land lords and investors some relief. 

TenantCloud is free, but I pay $90/yr to enable the online ACH rent payment feature. 

And, like is mentioned, many education programs in RE are more of a lead generation for educator to then continue to sell you and/or extract more value from you, i.e. form a fund of funds so you can help me raise more money.To your theory, I think the other part about real estate investing, especially as it is sold by many gurus by being an escape from your W2, is a bit oximoronic.  

If I had to choose, I would always prefer cold calling over texting for this approach.The two best strategies I’ve found are inbound methods: direct mail and Google Ads.Direct mail can be expensive, but it can also yield highly discounted properties.Google Ads, on the other hand, doesn’t require data extraction like calls, direct mail, or texting.

I realize that there's something a mighty thin line between being helpful and enabling, but in the end we all buy from those we know, like, and trust.