In a round-about way, I'm asking for help and looking to see if I should completely back out of this or if there is someone in the Portland area willing to help out a newbie and gain a property along the way while also increasing your network. 

I can't imagine any networking course is worth this.

Wondering if anyone has recommendations for an investor friendly agent in Lansing, Pontiac and Hazel Park / Detroit Michigan.Looking to network and make connections in the area.

There's a lot of real estate professionals that you are going to need to work with (lenders, contractors, accountants, lawyers, etc.) in the course of buying, renovating, and renting your house, and you definitely want to network and build your team with all these professionals.

Let me know if you want to network and we can figure it out!

My main interest in this forum as I slowly transition from cubicle dweller to independent investor is to build up my network and contacts and perhaps eventually find the next opportunity.Other than RE I'm a computer nerd for my day job, other interests include building electric vehicles, electric vehicle advocacy, bicycling, outdoorsy stuff, and vintage land rovers.  

I’ll say two things though, one is I’m sitting on a good amount of cash (relatively) and hate seeing it just sitting in a bank (though would hate to lose it).The second is I am slowly building a network.

BP has been incredibly helpful so far - join the BP meetup in Rocky Hill ( one just took place on the 15th, it's once a month ) or the one @Filipe Pereira goes to in Manchester. it's an amazing place to network, ask questions and find partners!

I do have connections with contractors in Southern oregon, I also do contract myself here in San Diego, and also have a real estate agent I've known for many years ive been working with in southern Oregon on finding investment homes. my question is if there are any other investors i couod network with that have experience in that market, maybe willing to lend a few words of advice on my first REI. any help is appreciated -Andres

It's a great one because it's just a bunch of people, meeting at a coffee shop, who all share what they are involved with and working on and then people can ask questions and network with who they want.