I highly recommend attending local REI meetings, reading books, and listening to the pod casts on here. 

Good afternoon and nice to meet you!

I can borrow a very small amount from my 401(k) at 2.25% interest for a down payment or purchase, but given how hot my local market has been that won't get me very far until I can learn some alternative strategies.  

Also, they have to accept the first applicant who meets those criteria. 

Hello Everyone,I am new to Bigger Pockets and would love to meet with other investors in the San Diego or Southern California area to discuss real estate and share strategies about local investing and out of state investing. 

I'm one of them and I'm just across the bridge.Consider yourself invited to the Boston South REIA, meeting the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM at Radius Financial, 600 Longwater Dr, Suite 107, Norwell MA.

They spoke at one or our recent NARPM meetings and were extremely knowledgeable about the real estate business.  

I am planning to attend the meeting tomorrow.

We treat it as a business , have a written agreement and having monthly meetings. ( we also have a 2 yr agreement on partnership - at that point we will re-evaluate)We are trying to model some of the success stories out there in partnership.Thank you very much for your advise

Reach out to them, meet them, and offer to work for free until you gain experience, knowledge, and confidence to take the bigger leap in your career.