Hey Ossie, I am glad you are going to come to another meeting to get a full outlook of Tulsa REIA.

She's a doctor of anudiology and I'm an engineer and both went to school full time and lived off the loans.

I am extremely interested in real estate investing and currently looking to close my first deal while working full-time as a Director in Customer Relations.

There must be five or six now.Part of the strategy on claiming CCA will depend on how you hold the property (i.e. directly in your name or via a corporation) and your planned length of hold.When you hold property in your own name, the CCA recapture upon disposition can hurdle you into another, sometimes substantially, higher tax bracket {BTW:  The recapture has an inclusion rate, in your income, of 100%; it is not taxed at 100% ;-) }.  

Make sure to check out the Bigger Pockets Blog: https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/It is full of great information.

Not an ideal location for Corporate opportunity....most people who do work corporate jobs commute to the city (Grand Rapids) and this significantly affects how property in Muskegon rents (interest, length of stay, type of renter, etc...)

I've been pondering the decision to get Plus or Pro (even though not a real estate pro) so I can really take full advantage of this community and take my knowledge to the next level.

I don't mean to go against the grain of those who are selling that idea - all I can say is that it did not work for me.So.......... back to taking seminars, buying cassette tapes and books - I wanted to learn everything I could about investing in real estate ---- so--I had to get money, working capital, and I needed to go on the cheap - A friend told me about cheap properties you could buy in Baltimore - houses for only $2-3,000 and many of them could be found at public auctions.After borrowing some money and getting some credit cards and a new job - one in sales - I was ready - ready to invest in cheap- junk properties in the City.And wouldn't you know it - I got lucky at my first auction and purchased a cheap house that was boarded up - Because of all those expensive seminars I enrolled in I WAS READY - prepared with my pry-bar, flash light, level, marble and probe - I decided to go to this building that was being auctioned the next day - I sort of removed some plywood and crawled through a window to take a look -Boy was I surprised - this place looked great - I later found out that the estate boarded it to keep squatters out.The next day - I was ready with my deposit and waiting for the auctioneer to start his melodious hypnotic chant - 5 bidders appeared but did not bid because they could not get it - I was the only bidder and got the house real cheap.Today as an auctioneer, investor and developer of commercial properties - if someone would ask my opinion on how to get started I would suggest ---Continue to study but learn how to cut through the BSGet a credit line Learn 20 creative financing techniques - no money down systems (that is none of your own money)Hang with a few successful investors and pick - pick - pick their brain*** Look at 50 houses in the area you intend to invest (not expensive, blue collar, mixed rental and home owner neighborhoods)When you are finished looking at 50 properties - you will be armed with knowledge that most agents and other investors don't have - knowledge of values -Keep a journal, put listings in it, write down everything the agent or owner says, keep a record of the cost per square foot - this will help determine values -Have agents send you expired listings - go knock on the door or send a letter to ask if they are still accepting offers on the property - Remember an expired listed is a property that failed to sell - the seller should still be motivated to sell. 

If a tenant asked me to buy a property, I would only consider selling at full market price.

How much are you guys paying for LABOR on a full bathroom remodel.