Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I had a large source of income and could afford to make mistakes.

LS is my typical go-to but I was curious as to whether someone preferred to use another source...

I also mentioned to him that with a single family home, I am *speculating* that the appreciation will rise in a single family home and this is my only source of equity.

But what I'm about to tell you is more valuable than any MBA.Everything you have outlined comes down to one critical thing:Creating cash flow.This is the single most important (and also most misunderstood) concept.Consider your expenses.

I am seriously considering starting in REI with the goal of making it my primary source of income.

Hard money are high interest loans for a property you buy, rehab and then sell or refinance with conventional loans.Private money as in what source?

@Sandy WeedThe source of the deal and the list price don't matter - the house is worth what the house is worth, repairs are what repairs are, and my investment criteria is steadfast.

I would say it depends on the source of the funds.

The conference looks like it has a good amount of value, but with the Paper Source conference in April, and the Note Expo conference in November, it's difficult to justify the cost of travel, hotel, food and the conference for yet another event in our note investing niche. 

this is not the sole source of my education, but thanks for suggesting and i will be sitting with a broker next week!!