I am sick and tired of disclaimers, because it's the same thing as saying "My article is bunk, and at best it maybe just pie in the sky!" 

@James Paisley if you decide to explore the hard money option, I know a private lender in this area I can refer you to if need be. 

I think it's pretty commonly held knowledge, at least by those of us living in the Houston area, that our city has grown exponentially over recent decades.Well, CultureMap posted a pretty cool .gif the other day showing by just how much the city and surrounding areas have expanded since the 1940's, with the most impressive growth spurts coming since the 1970's.You can view the brief article and .gif here: http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/05-16-16-see-how-dramatically-houston-has-grown-since-the-1970s/

I started reading  articles and listening to podcasts from bigger pockets, and I become a member.

Be sure to explore the site to get familiar.

They are both great at learning the fundamentals.Also - here's a couple articles you might enjoy:The 21 Best Real Estate Investing Books EverHow to Start Investing In Real Estate at a Young AgeOh - and don't forget to set up your Keyword Alerts!

There are likely thousands of threads, articles, and blog posts that can help you figure out methods to research leads.

I seem to read a lot of news articles on new assisted living projects being financed with Tax Increment Financing (TIFs).  

There's no reason for anyone to grow up and invest, they can choose shopping centers and apartments right now.I have asked many investors what type of real estate crowdfunds they prefer, and have read many articles and posts about crowdfunding.  

Lesson learned......explore all options and resources.