Novogradac is a good resource to learn more.The potential tax advantages are exciting but I advise you to do due diligence on OZ Funds that you are considering (i.e. compare fees, sponsor experience / track record, identified assets, real estate projects, etc.).

There is a financial literacy program available to everyone, sponsored by the credit union industry.  

If the property is stable  (90% occupied for at least 90 days) and the loan amount is larger than $1M (or more) and the sponsor had previous experience, the loan may be non recourse.

I am willing to take the classes but it seems that in Illinois you have to have a sponsor from a broker agency to get the license and Iowa it actually states you need to be employed by an agency to get the license.

Contrast that to a syndication and all the work is upfront finding a sponsor and a deal - after that, you couldn't be active if you wanted to!

For 500k you can get into 10 real estate syndication projects at 50k a pop that give returns anywhere from 10-15% IRR yearly without you having to do any work besides vetting the sponsor/deal. on the other end of the spectrum you could flip houses or buy a value add apartment building.

As a MHP sponsor, we are actively using this strategy, so I will explain:When a property is purchased and a formal cost segregation study is performed, the entire portion of the property's value with a useful life of 20 years or less can be taken as a passive loss in the year the property is purchased.

Usually, when you invest with other's sponsored syndications, your control and rate of return are muted. 

This story on a local CBS station has a couple interesting notes:-- The bill sponsor seems to say that he is trying to combat hotels that converted to "residential" for tax purposes.

U have to do a REG A to guarantee returns.. and then the guarantee is only as good as the company.. if the plan fails and the sponsor or company goes BK you still lose your money.