The fact is it is not free tax payers are paying to put you through school so you have a responsibility not to waste their money.Go to school to achieve a employment goal or get out and find a job that will hopefully finance your investing and maybe enjoy.

Look at school districts, employment, transportation links, appreciation over 5 years, etc...I invest in only a narrow geographical area, where I live, so I already have a good feel for the quality of areas.

I recently moved to a new city, transitioned out of the military and started a new job so I feel a year is a good window for me to establish a steady history of employment for financing purposes and to also get a feel for my local market.

People lose jobs all the time, it's on him to find another source of employment or means to pay his rent. 

Even though I am not self-employed (have a W2 job), I can roll over my existing IRA and old 401K to the QRP and make these investments.

Read articles and economic reports, census data, job trends and employers. 

I would recommend employing a tax pro, the advice that they give will be far more valuable than the amount you pay them.  

I am wanted to know what some of you have done to possibly unofficially/officially employ these guys to help me drive streets, look for properties that are distress or fit my criteria from the curb in my farm area, and take addresses for me to later contact after scrubbing through them at home.Ideas so far:   just feeling this out with several high school/college age friends my wife and I know, a general consensus is that most would be happy to do this for just a full take of gas and if we land a deal they get a cut/flat rate.  

I know it's vulgar to talk about money, but as of today I have $25,862.64 sitting in a 401K from and old employer.

Earlier this month, I received a call from the benefits center of a former employer which houses a deferred vested pension I have.