How early should I start interviewing real estate agents, beginning the FHA loan process, and any other necessary components?

Really add the visual component.

Graham Minkeasier than resale....lots of components to that, more buyers, not bought on cash flow, probably sell to O/O, less expenses, less appliances, I could go on.If you don't do a Section 1031, uncle will take some of that $50K, if you're in the highest tax bracket that bite could be 44% just Fed no counting state.One alternative would be to get a second mortgage if there is equity above the first that you can borrow.

I'm contemplating spending up to $15,000 to buy into an established mentor/coaching wholesaling program that focuses heavily on the marketing and system components.   

In the big picture it is not worth it in many cases for what is involved.What a property manager will charge varies.If you have a property in a war zone it can be 10 to 12% or more to run properly.If you have a larger apartment building you can get to 5% to 6% management.You can mix up your investment portfolio to give you a wide range of possibilities or stick to one niche.It doesn't make sense for you to take away TIME from your business and primary income to deal with investments.That can cost you more money than the returns you will be getting in lost productivity.Take it from someone who is not only a commercial broker but an investor themselves as well.How you spend your time for the return involved is the key component.

Net Worth is a paper tiger and is really meaningful only at two points in your lifebragging rights at a cocktail partydealing with your estate when it goes to your heirsLoad Rate, qualifications for loans, and cash-on-cash returns have no component of your net worth.

As you scale up and take new clients you will quickly notice different views, quality,... with VRs that clash with your concept.Its RE with a large amount of a hospitality component that many owners seem to over look / ignore. 

There is a human component as well but you have to monetize as well.If the broker/agent is not doing this I wouldn't want to work with them anyway as they do not understand business and time versus money cost.If they do not understand that they certainly do not understand how to evaluate investment property for you.Is this an investment broker/agent or someone who just list homes that you stumbled across??

In some cases, this could be detrimental not only to the borrower, but to the lender.

(Ross Perot was exactly right)  Cheap TVs in exchange for a decimated manufacturing sector is not a wise exchange - especially when a hostile adversary is in control of our medical supplies and electronic components used by our military.10.