He described Scott Hatteberg's approach to hitting in "Moneyball" and how Hatteberg showed discipline at the plate, only swinging at pitches he knew he could hit well.I took this as a metaphor for RE investing. 

I don't yet want to actively trade notes myself, so I'm evaluating a few different private placement note funds.In an effort to vet the funds and the teams behind them, I am hoping to connect with BP fols that have personal experience investing in funds offered by Colonial Capital Management or note funds in general.

It's just another voluntary trade association, so I'm not sure how that makes you credible or not.  

Hello,I'm relocating to Sioux Falls, SD for at least a couple of years and am looking to buy a fixer (I like to build in equity and my wife is an Architect and Project Manager) to be our primary residence, then rent it out if/when we move away.I'm an experienced real estate investor (buy + hold for rent) but don't have a team anywhere near South Dakota.Would appreciate referrals for:Real Estate Agent (ideally experienced in income properties but I've checked out the purchase and rental markets in Sioux Falls remotely and really just need someone for showings and the transaction)Inspector (someone extremely thorough - I need to know exactly what I'm getting into so I can plan and budget properly)Contractor (looking for licensed, bonded, experienced, inexpensive but reliable - I'm willing to pay more for durable and low-maintenance rehabs and renovations)Property Manager (I will no longer be living in the area when the property becomes a rental)Handyman (if I don't find a Property Manager I like, I'll manage remotely but will need someone who can respond to urgent and/or low $ maintenance issues - I'll remotely hire trades to deal with bigger issues.  

Direct your summer employment to the construction trades.

I suspect most people who flip houses over an extended period of time have ended up with a rental, or vice versa, I bet most people who want to buy and hold end up doing some form of flipping/major rehab at one point or another.Having just completed my first rehab, with relatively little experience in the construction trades, flipping is much harder and much more hands on than being just a landlord. 

If I can swing a layover in Orlando you got it!

I have studied all aspects of real estate and am friends of many investors and real estate attorneys but have been so busy with others ventures and trading as well as my engineering job I have not jumped in.

Larger, growing markets with a more significant pool of ready buyers will experience less volatile cap rate swings in declining markets, and as David T said, projects with steep value-add opportunities can overcome the losses due to cap rate expansion in many cases.   

Would it be wise for me to trade in my 2001 Camry that I have no payments on, and get a car that qualifies for Uber in order to earn extra cash for investing?