All beginner books seem to skip the basics and the teaching the process itself.

Once again, I say thank you all for the posts and contributions which have contributed in no small measure in teaching me all that I have come to know in the real estate investing domain at the moment.

I was fortunate to have the head of their education dept. teaching the class so he only gave us the info we absolutely needed and would use without all the extra fluff. 

You cannot compensate yourself or use IRA owned properties in any way - you are simply directing your IRA into arm's length investments.There is a lot of good information on BP in the forums and blogs on this topic, and that is a good way to teach yourself "the questions to ask" on this topic.  

@ Michelle L. and @Elizabeth Colegrove Getting a real estate license doesn't teach you how to sell real estate or get listings.

Speak to an attorney and have them teach you how to fill out the PSA correctly.

Go to a REIA and find out if they teach a course on it. 

Teach them to use google earth if they don’t know already.

I guess if they are willing to teach me then 50/50 is OK.

Now the CCIM program teaches if you need that money to later put back into the business, then what that money is doing in the mean time is relevant.