I started my career in this industry at a young age and it does allow you a lot of flexibility that many folks do not have.

Retail rate sheets by contrast have operating expenses built into them and do not need to be marked up. 

I have been given the opportunity to find a buyer for a retail deal.

I have liquidity from the previous business to invest and hopefully kick start this endeavor.Biggest challenge - I don't know this industry, I am coming from a completely opposite industry in the technology field.What I have, I think, in my favor, are colleagues from the RE industry with experience in both traditional RE sales (agent/buy/sell) but also experience in the REI side (one owning about 70+ properties and the other owning about 25 properties, both using their properties for passive cashflow)With an engineering/analytical background, my greatest fear right now is the unknown and I am trying to shore up that experience through reading and listening to others, but as I have already discovered, its like taking a drink from the fire hose - way more knowledge than I can consume in a short period of time.Questions I would pose to anyone interesting in providing some feedback -- Best way to look for that first opportunity?  

Not sure if I'm going to fix it up and sell retail, or get it cleaned out and sell it as is.  

Nearly every industry has a Ws mechanism to distribute market opportunities.

There are plenty of Escrow people who have no clue how to do their job (as with any industry) and get crazy escrow fees on each escrow, but the cream rises to the top and finding the RIGHT EO for the job is often more important than their fee!

It all started back in 2004, as a recent graduate working in the construction industry, I took to living in the basement of a SFH in Arlington Va where my older brothers lived as well as another roommate.  

These tend to have the best ROI when compared to other investments such as office space, warehouse, retail, etc.

It's in a file a market do you like where there is a need for not just Rentals, but quality retail ready Rentals (that gives you a niche), The economy is solid, rents are up and vacancy is down.