@Mitch MesserI'm a mortgage broker by trade.

-Looking to start building a network in the area (and just in general), bounce ideas off others, and just talk property.Where I am on my investment journey: -Bought, lived in, renovated, and sold a 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo in San Diego and came out of that deal with enough to “trade up” and procure my first apartment home here with the intent to “house hack” and start with a roommate.

One of our main trading partners is being aggressive right now and scooping up deals now for 10 points less than they offered a few weeks ago.

You could invest in a REIT, but those trade (and are valued) like stocks.

I also feel that the two family investment I acquired with using your skills and suggestions may be a bad investment as well.

Read the forums, read books, get really ready before approaching sellers or go to REIs and make friends with a wholesaler who may show you the ropes if you have skills that could help their business.

@Jaleh AfroozeUnless you are a real estate professional and operating your rental portfolio as a trade or business with material participation then this exception will not help you.

This means the AGI ceiling is effectively 100% for the 2020 tax year.BUSINESS TAX PROVISIONSEMPLOYEE RETENTION CREDITEligible employers are allowed a credit against employment taxes for each calendar quarter equal to 50% of qualified wage (including health benefits) paid to employees.This amount is limited to $10,000 of wages paid to an employee for all calendar quarters.An eligible employer is one which is in a trade or business:Whose operation is fully or partially suspended due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel or group meetings due to COVID-19; orWho has a “significant decline” in gross receipts (i.e., there is a decrease to less than 50% of the gross receipts for the same quarter in the prior year).Different rules apply as to the covered wages depending upon the number of employees the employer had in 2019.

While this agreement was focused first on Canada, the US, and Mexico, so many trade agreements have realized that "Giant Sucking Sound" Ross Perot warned us about.Not that I am working for a political discussion, but facts are, because of our vast trade agreements, we no longer manufacture or grow so much that once made the US the most productive economy in the world.

I have seen a couple of quotes in recent articles and I don't think the messaging is as powerful as it should be.Think back to the evil banks- they got their trade groups out and polished up their image.