I've read two of Robert Kiyosaki's books (I'm sure plenty of people have mixed views on him and the books), I've learned as much as I could from several mentors, and I'm constantly thinking of breaking from the mundane cycle of going to school to get a career, and I'm hoping to own my own business someday.

As Dion mentioned, Dodd-Frank is not the only fence to get over in the lending field.

I do not wish to be in that field for ever but having the lingo down, and prices will help me not get burned by contractor's in the future.

I would think I would want that because I would learn information/processes/ideas that would help me in the future and help better educate me in the field of real estate from the inside.

I came into Real Estate while researching different career choices that would allow me three simple things. 1) Have a career/craft to fall back to at any given point in my life. 2) Be my own boss. 3) A means to meeting/building new relationships with other like-minded individuals.I read the majority of Real Estate for dummies, once I identified that Real Estate Investing may be the chosen field which would open doors for me.

I’ve been out of the field for quite some time, but I did my first deal back in the 1980’s.

I am passionate about working in an idustry that allows me greater control of my career while at the same time directly influencing the lives of others (while, of course, making a comfortable living doing so!).

If you get sucked in to their 'gotta buy now before prices go up' you will become a motivated buyer and your RE career will end before it gets started.

Scott The Book on Flipping Houses,The Book on Estimating ReHab Costshttp://www.biggerpockets.com/flippingbook Couple great reads 9 Reasons You Couldn't Find A Buyer For Your Wholesale DealDon't Start Wholesaling Until You Read This: Wholesale Advice from a Fix and FlipperHow to Start Wholesaling: Getting Past The Education and Into the Field Download BP’s newest book here some good due diligence in Chapter 10.

Hi Derrick Carpenter you sound very similar to me (busy career, kids at home, RCJH, goal to retire at 45)!