The best way to connect and learn is to be in rooms where it's going down.In terms of captial your best bet is to focus on a primary income that cash flow sufficiently, saving as much as you can and doing something real estate related so you can get familiar with the industry.

I am also a huge fan of real estate and for the past 50 years there's been a way to combine both.By leveraging a Self-Directed IRA, real estate investors enjoy both the traditional advantages of property ownership and the additional tax benefits of retirement accounts, creating a powerful wealth-building strategy.

I'm now figuring out how to maximize the return on current properties and add value, efficient ways to self manage, etc.

A self-directed IRA or 401k can be a great vehicle for loaning money to others without getting hit with taxes on the interest income.

Why even concern yourself with the legality if it’s self serving and harmful to your family member?  

It will allow you to roll existing retirement funds into the 401k (save Roth IRA) and self direct those funds.  

But, I was once a paid preparer and prepared or supervised the preparation of tens of thousands of tax returns and I saw some pretty stupid self prepared mistakes.

Quote from @Dave Chengoue: Quote from @Wale Lawal: @Dave ChengoueIt's great to see your focus on multifamily properties and your clear plan for self-management.

Some reasons you'd need to sub your tax returns: if you have a schedule C (self employemnt) or a schedule E (rental income). 

You would have to self-manage though, as paying a property manager will eat up most of your profits.