Each interested party [in the subject property] is then given a chance to lay claim to all or a portion of those funds held in certificate.  

Another thing we are considering is using a portion of the sale to invest a percentage in a SFH here in Oregon that my I can live in and then pay her rent appropriate to the percentage she invests in, and I can use her deposit to cover the 20%+ needed for the loan to drop the PMI.

The construction portion of the loan is where you may run into trouble.

It may also be wise to contribute a least enough to satisfy the employer match portion.

My advice is while educating yourself is vital don't get caught in education mode too long.

As a real estate investor, it's vitally important to have this ability.

Since most term loans are DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) driven, knowing if the property is capable of sustaining a decent cash flow is vital.

Jack Oregon I would highly recommend you first look at passive real estate investments - see PatchOfLand.com or RealtyShares.com (there are many others if you search for crowd funding real estate).Park the real estate portion of your capital there and let them deal with the diligence and paperwork details.

I have heard that follow up and a CRM system is vital to success. 

Well, I'm asking all of you, if you had previously invested some $$$ in such a tax shelter and THEN found the miracle of REAL ESTATE, would you withdraw those registered dollars knowing the government will withhold a good portion of that amount as withholding taxes?