Between oil/gas, tech, telecom, space, military contracting, and other strong industries, we are doing very well.

If you mix buy and hold with wholesale or fix and flip the IRS might label you a dealer, which has significant impact.

It's the least tech savvy way out there, but might be the best one to start with if you have a few people in your area who just bought or sold and really enjoyed their experience. 

People partner on these things all the time and you can get as creative as you want on the terms, but the most important part is finding someone you trust and someone you work well with - especially if you'd be mixing capital when purchasing.

I had been asking around about keeping my current home as a rental property but I've been getting mixed answers.  

I had mixed experience in Baltimore.

@Bryce Davis you may be mixing apples and oranges.  

just a heads up, if it wasn't previously a mixed use property and you want to make it that, you will more than likely be required to sprinkler the 3 stories above due to the commercial space below. 

I went to my first and only local REIA meeting about 4 months ago and my experience was similar.The presentation that night wasn't salesy, just boring, but the people there were mostly complete beginners mixed with some sharks and bored real estate agents.

Out here in the southwest, things are back to booming, tech jobs are pouring into sunny Arizona, and if you can find a 6.5cap MFH in a b/c area you are just flat kicking a$$.