However, I'm not confident enough in my RE skills to jump in just yet.

We have a strong military community, always growing medical training facilities, a tremendously strong tourist and convention sector and the Eagle Ford Shale project created 116,000 high paying mid skilled jobs in 2013 and a 61 billion economic impact on the region.

If you and the contractor don't 'click', no matter what their cost or how stellar their references, working with the contractor will feel like pulling teeth (unless all the references specifically state "great work product, but terrible to work with").My company will win contracts, not because we are the cheapest, but because we are able to work with clients on a human level.

For the contractor, I'm sure to him, he feels it's worth it to be able to get to the next level; and it may be.

You'll get some house information and hopefully a good read on the motivation level of the seller and their situation.After they finish talking, I give them a brief overview of the process.

We did a hotel deal that was finalized in getting a commitment on the phone in probably about 30 minutes, but: That isn't done by just anyone unless you name is Walton or Gates or Buffet or other very wealthy folks, where you might have some opportunity or cause and the investor(s) have knowledge of your offering, your reputation, your abilities to perform and where that fund raiser has the financial expertise and social skills to carry off such a commitment.

@Tom Scott I think it's extremely important to operate within your own comfort levels especially when you first start out.

I loved fixing up my little bungalow and learning the skills necessary, so REI feels like the right path.

Had it been renting at that level of income for years?

I want to take my investing to the next level, which brings me back to my question.