Wife and I heard of a potential family-deal, where current Detroit Lakes owner wants to quit the snowbird game and go full-time-Florida.

David, We are NOT a Crowdfunding site but hope this is helpful and offers you an alternate option.Syndicators that use a 506B SEC Exemption and allow sophisticated investors into their syndication after establishing the proper relationship as 506B Exemptions require having a substantive preexisting relationship before you can co-invest/co-own with the syndication team.

Absolutely agree, if it fits your intent.Come up with your own game plan, which starts by learning. 

At this stage of the game for you, I would focus on banking as much money as possible and absorbing as much information as you can on real estate.

Personally, I would forego trying to wade into an investment property until you get the wife through her professional training program, and established back in the workforce.

When it comes to working with sellers, it's more the trust you establish with each other that counts.

This is to prevent people from being cute and playing this short, 15+% return game.

After being an active broker for 30+ years, I would encourage you to become a licensed agent and then broker.The experience of inspecting many properties on a daily basis, learning the listing as well as the selling side will only up your game when it comes to negotiating with a seller who's property you want to buy.Some of my best and most profitable 'flips' were because I went out on a listing call, knew the property values and was first on the scene. 

I started in the game right around your age. 

Other more established business operators with proven systems likely have the infrastructure to get to the scarce amount of distressed inventory before your average 1st time investor ever would.