I am an engineer so I can figure out the details. 

And last, When talking to the engineers, contractors, tenants and brokers, how do I make it sound as though I know what I'm doing when I clearly do not?

I live In Reno As and Work As A "Handy Man" I have used Infinity Engineering three times now and they also drew and engineered my Brothers Two Story Addition on a hill. very reasonable. 

@Michael Ludwig  There is a robust meet-up community and REI association network in the Twin Cities.   

I have tried to finish up my engineering degree online while deployed, but after reading RDPR (again a second time last year that made me even more convinced to get into real estate) and several other financial books, I realized that my degree would just lead me to being a slave to another industry.

I am from the infamous Greater Detroit Area, recent graduate, Software Engineer and a total newbie in the real estate world, looking forward to learning from everybody and meeting people (especially from my area).

I think it is a festinating topic but I think the financial engineers and central planners are great at keeping asset prices high. 

I work as a Structural Engineer/Project Manager in NYC.

I started talking to a local engineer who has done several apartment buildings and commercial plazas.

@Louis Gaeta I'm also a software engineer based out of NYC.