I have had numerous businesses through the years but it was serious health issue and the realization that disability social security payments would not allow me to live that made me want to build a successful RE portfolio.

Stumbled on a few of my words in the beginning and then the movie "the wolf of wall street" kicked into me head and I suddenly got a lot more confident talking to the agent.

Been there and done that numerous times.

My biggest issue with this appraisal is that he used a fixer upper that had recently been foreclosed on and a short sale as comps for a nicely remodeled home, when there are numerous remodeled sales in the neighborhood selling for $60,000 - $70,000 more.  

I've been interested in real estate investing(particularly buy and hold for cash flow) for some time, but always been hesitant to jump in.I've read numerous books, listened to almost 100 BP podcasts, been to some local REIA meetings, but I've yet to pull the trigger on anything.

Watch the movies Glen Gary Glen Ross and Boilerroom.  

These types of jobs or professions have many things in common I'm sure.Not only do you have a high degree of technical proficiency with numerous protocols but there is almost an "art" to employ the proper action and do so in, not just a timely manner, but very quickly, in an instant. 

When I travel to Hawaii, and spend a day or two looking at potential investment housing...even if I don't buy anything...that plane ticket is a deduction.I'm going to assume you're a smart guy, so as you know, there are numerous methods to get around paying taxes on your real estate income.  

Preferably in a multi-family home in a price range no more than $200,000 in a kid friendly area with fairly good schools, low crime, and access to numerous businesses and shops if at all possible.

All you aspiring SF investors on this thread, do yourselves a favor, and search on BP for the numerous threads dedicated to "cashflow vs appreciation."