If, at the settlement table, the seller surprises the buyer and says the price has now increased $150,000, the buyer walks away (appalled).  

Put all your cards on the table with private lender.  

During the hot summer months in AZ we like to escape to the mountains and in my boredom I will bid on properties at trustee sales.

There are investors out there who post ads on Craig's list looking for bird dogs; you can meet people at REI clubs; talk to realtors who might know investors who'd be willing to teach you, but make sure you're willing to bring something to the table as well (i.e. not afraid to take initiative and do some grunt work, if necessary). 

Sometimes we both sit a the table and she works on summer workbooks for school.  

In my market (Southern California) having private outdoor space that's larger than a postage stamp - big enough for a grill, a table, some chairs, and maybe 8+ people to hang out - seems to be the key to higher rents (that, and parking by the front door).I seem to attract former apartment dwellers who feel like it's an upgrade to get those two amenities ... even if the price is the same as the "luxury" apartments nearby.The quality of the yard doesn't seem to matter.

When working you way through the methodology and lists in Jason's books, just keep in-mind that certain aspects of financing and regulation will be different in BC, Canada (if that is where you plan to operate).Once you have absorbed "book knowledge", I would advise networking to finding an experienced rehabber in, or near-by, the area where you plan to operate and approach her/him about participating in an upcoming flip (you bringing capital to the table) to learn the ropes.Finally, I trust you plan to look elsewhere than Vancouver proper which has a crazily overheated market these days and you will need to command healthy sums of capital to play flipper in most of the City and surrounding 'burbs.

In sales, make it all about the guy/women sitting across the table from you. 

I'd like to build a portfolio of rentals that have cash flow and allow me to buy a small condo at Hidden Valley (in the mountains) for fun some day.I can never make local REI meetups cause they are usually on Mon and Tues and that doesn't work for me, and seems like kids sports get in the way other times. 

I'm currently looking for fix and flip deals in SE and SW Atlanta, Decatur, Mableton, Cobb, Stone Mountain and so forth that I can acquire at under 100k and are primarily cosmetic rehabs.