I had finally landed a great job making great money but still barely getting by.

Although there is sometimes resistance, he rarely complains because he’s making so much money!

Money you can put in your own pocket if you know where to go with a deal.I can’t say if the cost for their training is better and more organized than reading free information available to you.

@Mat FisherMost programs are very expensive which is why it’s easier to pay a servicer $25-$35/month th manage that process and they will also do all the tax forms and handle escrow

Its also an ideal forum to talk in depth with other seasoned pro's to avoid lost time and money.  

it's going to be nearly impossible to raise money for deal 1 without a track record

Likewise, your payment will be slightly lower and you can continue to cashflow more and still get some extra money to reinvest.   

The COC will be right around 8%, with $500 in cash flow (after accounting for Maintenace, repairs, taxes, insurance, vacancy, etc.).

I was talking to an investor who told me if he bought my property, he would borrow money from a hard money lender for a few months and then refinance with a regular lender. 

This is the standard advice: put your money into these retirement accounts and let it grow into a big pile of money by the time you retire.But think about it—this approach is flawed.