Joining your local Apartment Association is also a good idea.

Private money (family, friends, biz associates), HMLs, there is a lot of technique and strategy out there.

Many condo associations prohibit STR's.

So I am getting close to finishing my Bachelors degree and am looking to find my way into the Real Estate as I have a great interest in Real Estate Investing.

To all the agents out there, what makes a good brokerage and what are some typical fees associated with them (desk fees, usage cost, etc)

As you said, it's hard to find 2% property in Chicago especially if you don't do some degree of repair. 

I have even joined my local RE group, Triangle Real Estate Investors Association.

I have found a college that offers a real estate studies degree and I'll use the military's education benefits to pay for it.

It's about the numbers you need the following info to get a Rental Property Cash Flow Analysis    Property Management Fees Repairs and Maintenance Real Estate Taxes Rental Property Insurance Homeowners/Property Association Fees Replacement Reserve Utilities - Water and Sewer - Gas and Electricity - Garbage - Cable, Phone, Internet Pest Control Accounting and Legal Advertising Actual Purchase Price Down Payment Loan Amount Acquisition Costs and Loan Fees Length of Mortgage (years) Annual Interest Rate

The bigger question to me is: are you willing to accept the fes and taxes associated with the withdrawal from your 401k?