A brokers license allows you to run a brokerage business, including being a sole practitioner.For what you want to do, getting your license is not essential.   

Thus after 2 years I've essentially got ALL my money back via tax savings.

The best example is TD Bank (Toronto Dominion), it will lend to Canadian citizens to buy property in the US.Having good people is essential, whether, the property is down the street or across the globe.  

If you cannot get at least $2000 a unit per month it wouldn't be worth doing because you are essentially paying $2M to build a 6 unit that is valued at $2m..I would only build if I am gaining equity.

@Michael McConlogue My initial thought is that this property is such a mess that I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole, UNLESS all the parties (owner, tenants, etc) all got together and signed an agreement working everything out.There are quite probably title issues with this and I suspect the parties have complicated matters so much by trying to do everything themselves that they've essentially made this property unmarketable.

As a financial advisor having a diversified portfolio is essential.

I'm no economist or pretend to act like I know what he was talking about, but essentially he said:Rising interest rates will halt any economic growth.

Essentially everyone can see the deals on the MLS.

I assumed he would take a commission but the first deals would be so small, I believe he is going to just wave them as a favor to me.Obviously a great deal from my standpoint but I feel uncomfortable with him doing all the work and not getting reimbursed for his time and effort - and he's essentially giving up a deal that he could take himself. 

*Essentially the city of Houston is composed of impervious surfaces that resist the natural absorption of water, increasing the probably that a disaster like this will occur again.