This will allow you to grow your retirement savings - hopefully more consistently than in conventional assets if you know what you are doing with real estate.  

Hopefully once I prove myself and grow my network other options such as partnerships will start to come to fruition. 

I had learned how to sell options, how to remodel my house, how  to day trade, how to start a self directed ira, I started a Physical Therapy clinic, mined bitcoin, made a few websites, I think I may have even learned how to raise chickens/honeybees/ and grow organic vegetables. 

just LOL @ all the posts in this threadin 2011-2015, i acquired a number of foreclosed duplexes for $45-$55,000 in decent shape, requiring only $10,000 or less in repairs each, and all in GREAT locations in a city of 60,000+ and growing.

Perhaps you can pitch it to them to see if there is some interest.No matter how this particular deal works out, always remember to persist and you will WIN!!!

If you perform the repair personally, you have to be reasonable in charging fair market rate. eg. if it takes 1 hr of your labor for some handyman's work, $20-30/hr is reasonable, even you're probably paid much more in your own line of work.My suggestion is to first fire the PM who obviously wanted to skim some profit by inflating the repair cost while exposing you to lawsuits (remember you're in CA - a blue state and San Jose - a city with rent control).

If u have that type of capital a little research into the top 5 fastest growing cities in the us will pay off for u ten fold.

@Jordan LaneIt's been awhile since I've taken accounting classes, but one thing I remembered was that it is always better for a business to rent than own their space.

All this can be very daunting, but remember you want to be ahead of the game before you start.Your reputation can make or brake you.

Always remember to persist and you will WIN!!!!