I have several wealthy friends who would work with me but I do not know how to structure a deal properly.  

It seems to me there are two different types of people working in the real estate industry: 1)The wealthy - the investors, the leveragers, the negotiators, the business owners, the creative types who CREATE wealth.

One way is to find a cash wealthy partner or you can get owner financing if you build a good relationship that takes a few calls.  

Asa wealth building asset a good Bay Area property held long enough will make you wealthy.

At the same time, I know that real estate is generally a "get wealthy slowly" kind of business (significant wealth and retirement doesn't happen overnight).So this got me thinking - how long do you think a investor should stick with their chosen niche before they see results?

"Networking..." was his 3rd book and it's more for a salesperson or entrepreneur on how to help market and attract wealthy clients.His first two books were "Marketing to the Affluent" and "Selling to the Affluent".

Dear The 1%, The wealthy, and The financially successful:I am not someone who enjoys politics or follows politics in detail.

I live in a nice neighbourhood, the typical single family home area but my dream is bigger so I drive all the way over to the other side of the city where the wealthy live and walk thru he neighbourhood and up the hills to see the view over my city, 4 -5 times a week!..

Would love to move overseas, if only for a year or two, in order for our kids to experience a different culture and gain some international perspective.

People always had to put more down (20%) and people that are in the second home market are at least moderately successful to even be thinking about a vacation property.I think in a moderate economic down turn, the wealthy will actually diversify out of stocks and into real estate, into markets where they feel their money is safe.