I'm determined to close on two more properties by the end of the year and I would not be in the position to do this if it was not for the decisions I made over the last four years. 

This may also help you determine what areas you want to live in.

I also picked up David’s Greene’s book and hope to try my next deal on my own OOS deal.

I guess that now we just need to determine a time and a place.

I would love to take an experienced investor our to lunch or coffee to pick their brain on strategies, figuring out the best way to start and find my first deal and what markets to focus on.  

You have measurements of performance to determine if it's a good investment and then measurements of liquidity to determine if it is a safe investment.

You're probably in a better position, being a GC - but still, the success of a deal is usually determined before any work ever starts, so you just have to find the right deal.

I am looking to pick some people's brain that are crushing the wholetailing business. 

Thomas ...ask any friends / colleagues / neighbors for a home  loan officer  referral …….contact several  and explain  your scenario  to determine  how much they can lend  / the possible loan terms and  if you can qualify  ...as some have mentioned -  lenders will allow the current appraised value to be used for loan to value calculations after  6 months  ( some require 12 months seasoning ) ..good luck

They didn't even care to pick up when I was there all last month putting in New tiles for them.