Better check your facts Jack, I have more time on this site than 99.9% of the membership, have more posts, more votes, and more valid advice than you can possibly hope to give.

If you buy a $1000 membership interest in, say, Providence Bank, LLC... do you pay $800?  

I'm curious to see what the thoughts of the general BP membership are on this.

Just have to make sure and pay for that site inspection by an engineer and get the phase one environmental survey along with the cost reserve stable.All of that will cost you in the thousands of dollars.Drive the area at night and see how bad it is.

Gym membership, hmmm that's half a months cash flow.

The last time we surveyed our clients, roughly 10% were also active investors while closer to 30% had other passive investments in real estate such as notes or lending.  

Get a membership/license, go from there. 1a) hire a broker who will do 1) 2) hire an attorney.

Most other professions it would require a lengthy process of attending college, grad school, med school etc... here we can sign up for a seminar or membership, feel and "look" the part instantly.

At my attorney's advice, I waited until I had it under contract (when I was selling) to order the survey.

A very good resource and very low membership dues.