I found out who did it for them and the cost was 1/4 what they charged at the workshop.They also offered a deal, but I didn't feel ready .

If you go to meetups for 6 months and just talk to people and never have an ask, you will find friends, partners, JV deals, and mentorship.

I work with people to sponsor deals with them through syndications (and even JV's at times) and have a Multifamily Accelerator (link above) to teach and work with people on their deals.

Step 1 - Get a good agent who knows how to find a good deal in the market you're inStep 2 - If the agent is good, they will have a great lender they already work with who will be able to guide you through the different loan options and products that make the most sense for you and your situation. 

What is it that makes them good deals?

My first deal was an out-of-state rental.

While I have sufficient liquid cash on hand, I prefer to maintain liquidity as I'm actively seeking my next deal.

While doing that, continue to look for MHP deals.

So I strongly recommend people know who and what they are dealing with - saving $5-$10 a month can cost you a lot more in the long run

Luckily, I am actively researching the ins and outs of REITs and PE real estate deals (both of which I encounter often with work).Main Point: I would like to get into real estate investing, but I don't know if I should utilize my career CRE learning and enter that space first, or start smaller with residential.