Realizing that I have nothing to show for the last 12 years of my married life I took it upon myself to start listening to the right people and educating myself to ensure that I have a better more secured future.

It might be worth prospecting for rent by owner listings in the areas you’re looking in to make your efforts more efficient. 

Some investors may be wiped out entirely, some may barely make it, and some will rise above it and change their investing strategies going forward to ensure they'll survive market shifts.

Etc.Essentially, you're banking on these units being financeable with conventional financing after taking ownership, but don't have the protections in place to ensure that is the case. 

Sometimes certain deals are more complex in their structure and you may want or need an attorney to draw up the paperwork to ensure it is done in accordance to IRS regulations. 

Of course, this only gets you some operators/developers and working for larger companies you tend to be pigeon holed into a very specific role, often with very efficient systems and processes. 

The last thing you want is for people to stand around doing nothing.Both Tyson and Holyfield were right, plans shouldn’t survive the first punch in the mouth but you need one in the first place to be able to adapt it for changes in reality…“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first then seek to win” Sun Tzu, the Art of War.So, be like Holyfield, put a plan together in sufficient detail to “win first” but ensure you can adapt this plan so that one “punch in the mouth” does not result in defeat.

What are the best practices/creative ways to obtain this amount of money in the most efficient way?

Attend landlord association meetings, go to conferences and ensure that everyone knows that you are a serious investor and that you are actively purchasing properties.

Attend landlord association meetings, go to conferences and ensure that everyone knows that you are a serious investor and that you are actively purchasing properties.