I tend to agree with this statement and have been successful in helping companies identify their profit producing activities and then create systems and processes to make those easier. 

I take no pleasure in being blunt, but the first warning sign was a 17% interest rate--sounds great to an inexperienced investor, but the realities of the real world make that VERY difficult to be successfully paid. 

SonThere will always be just enough folks who claim, or perhaps, even demonstrate, success arising from the "coaching" or "courseware" offered by the self-proclaimed guru to provide some air of legitimacy.  

I'd rather not ask my agent to continuously make offers with a 1 in 20 success ratio (or lower). 

Other than that, in general terms, you need to learn 3 things:1 - How to analyze Markets...not properties2 - How money works3 - How to develop, and stick to, a REI Business planAll three are critical to your success, and all three are equally important, and in fact, depend on eachother.

I have a number of clients from the bay area that have found success in Fresno.  

Meeting other investors and discovering how I can be of value to them is a great path to success for me and I bet it will be for you. 

I have also had success with 2 flips recently.

I have a bit of a background in finance, but I'm still in the process of spending some time educating myself on the foundations of having success in real estate investing. 

It's a great tool that lets your learn and work for success.