In order to meet the 25% down payment requirement, we have to consider other avenues. 

I'd also recommend that you join your local REIAs (find them on meetup.com) and BP meetups in your area (here) as it's a good place to connect with investors. 

Will try to make it to your meet up next week!

If you have to go out and meet them anywhere off the "island", as in meeting them halfway, you lose.Two things to remember about negotiations and offers:1 - Don't negotiate against yourself2 - Patience wins, impatience loses3 - Sometimes the best deals, are the ones you don't make....OK, three things.

As Russell Brazil said there is a monthly meet up in the area.

Meet in the middle 

I came to join BiggerPockets after scouring the internet for information on real estate investing.

I know there are successful people out there and I want to one day join as one of them and prove my friends and family wrong that this is something that WORKS not something to fear.

Awesome thank you Caleb for the advice, I will look into going to these meetings. 

Networking here will help you learn, build relationships and meet other investors who share your dreams and desires.