You provide guidelines with your requirements to your contractors, so they can perform to the level you desire.

There shouldn't be a slew of vacancies in homes if those homes are desirable. 

I have a lot of family and friends in the states and at this time have no desire to leave.

I have no experience in real estate, but I do have a drive and desire to learn and launch my career.

My question is... since I will incur expenses (local REI club dues, Bigger Pockets Pro, entertainment expenses while building a team, fuel while prospecting desirable localities for my target property type, maybe a separate cell number and PO Box for direct mail responses etc...) this year, but will most likely not purchase a property until 2017, am I able to deduct those expenses against my w2 earned income this year?

Beyond this more technical stuff, one would also need to know what your desired price-point is or at least a general range you're looking to buy within.

I am forecasting 10% returns if we can land in our desired revenue target. 

Working as an employee isn't for everyone and it sounds you have the entrepreneurial desire to do more with your life.  

Hello everyone,I am new to real estate investing I love reading all of your advice and details on the deals you're working on , I stay in Milwaukee and we have a lot of foreclosed, boarded up homes if anyone is willing to connect I am be boots on the ground here for you.I know Milwaukee isn't the most desirable city but to a creative person I feel like with the things we have building up in the city this could be a potential gold mine.

Hello everyone,I am new to real estate investing I love reading all of your advice and details on the deals you're working on , I stay in Milwaukee and we have a lot of foreclosed, boarded up homes if anyone is willing to connect I am be boots on the ground here for you.I know Milwaukee isn't the most desirable city but to a creative person I feel like with the things we have building up in the city this could be a potential gold mine.