I am retired and looking to learn and make friends with folks who share the real estate bug.

I put down 5 percent of the down payment on a duplex that cost 290k, once I moved in the mortgage was 1589, I rented out a room for my friend for 650.

Should I look into an investor-friendly Real Estate agent? 

I've been recommending it to all my friends. 

I got the form from here on Bigger Pockets, under the FilePlace: https://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/ventekrea...It's on the front page of the file section, been downloaded a lot. 

Hello Friends!

Areas include but are not limited to: Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago, Gary, Hobart, Valparaiso, Crown Point, Merrillville, Shererville, Hobart, etc. come in and introduce yourself- and be sure to invite your friends, colleagues, and other professional contacts! 

-I constructed my team to consist of the cream of the crop Property Management Team in Dallas, a partner that owns and operates 200M in Real Estate, and I moved to the city that I invest so that I can submerge myself in the market... super check.I don't think that the credibility and experience I've amassed is anything special, but I do think that it sufficient enough to entice warm traffic for a conversation about investing with us..By warm traffic I mean family and friends who have consistently asked that I let them know when I get a deal that they'd be able to participate in (and my goodness what a deal this is). 

Ex-wife and I are not on friendly terms. 

Be friendly (kind-considerate-respectful), firm (be clear about your expectations and have the moxie to address issues as they arise), fair (comply with the law, no favoritism, appropriate response to the situation) , fast (quick to respond to maintenance requests and other tenant concerns), and flexible (when the situation warrants).