With your credit history and your financial situation, you should be able to get started in that area no problem.

You can go about it both ways, you can get it under contract after you've been pre-approved for funding but it really shows the lender you're serious if you have it under contract already.The price of the house won't change drastically after it's under contract, so we'll know how much funding you'll need and you'll have a clearer financial picture from which to plan from.Let me know if there's anyway I can help!

I told to a financial planner in the midst of the Great Recession.

@Craig Curelop, I haven't been to one but I would seriously consider it.Benefits: NetworkingBeing with like mind individuals (You never know, you could meet your next partner, financing, mentor...)Jim Rohn always said that you should invest in yourself, never skimp on education. 

I have been consulting people and governments for years on financial matters and legislation.

I don't know at what stage of the process you and your brother are at in this process.Here are some thing to consider, when you say 50/50 is that your financial split? 

That will depend on if we are able to find a financial partner to help with the cash needed so I'm not tying up all of my money in one project.

Flips are great, but building a portfolio of rental properties is more appealing to me from a long term financial standpoint. 

I am a Financial Education Service Agent helping clients of Real Estate Agents correct their credit issues so they can obtain home ownership.

you have to always ask for the financials to see how the broker came to that cap rate calculation.