I had some thoughts that can't get off my head, but I know there are a lot of experienced and knowledgeable personals on this platform so I would like to ask everyone their thoughts on the route an aspiring real estate developer should take.

The QOF has 30 months to purchase and substantially improve real estate in an opportunity zone. 

In Tahoe I've even helped neighbors head in the right direction to get their permit.

Yeah personally depending on the situation it could cost substantial money especially on a 10 unit building.

@Victor Trejo Brie hit it on the head and the notice is the important part here. 

You have a great philosophy in regards to paying to learn as much as you can.In 1972 I paid $6,000 to go to a one-day seminar and everyone said I was crazy, but I learned many things that day that stuck in my head and many of those things helped helped me to make my business much more successful.I wrote what I did because I'm burned out from going to too many real estate club meetings where they bring in snake oil salesment, but I should have stated that there are some legitimate companies. 

It's like finding a unicorn on the head of a needle buried in a haystack.Targeting the specific question about cash reserve:  ask the seller about deferred maintenance, the age of the roof, and the age of the mechanicals. 

Instead of continuing to do that, I started automatic investing through my brokerage into mutual funds and got the idea out of my head that I can get rich quick through the market.My third avenue to financial freedom was by starting my own business.

It only gets headlines when it's something like a lady's head getting chopped off in a hospital as she was being transported on a gurney.

In fact, it seems to be accelerating.For comparison, the Dallas Regional Chamber in July was tracking 109 "substantial prospects" for relocation/expansion, 24 of which were corporate headquarters, according to the Dallas Business Journal.https://www.bizjournals.com/au...