I have always been very leery of entering or committing into anything without having at least a small well of knowledge about the topic.My wife and I are very hopeful that with this enlightning awakening to the world of real estate investing that we will achieve all our future financial goals.  

The combination of strategies and systems implemented by a well-trained team under a great leader could lead to a massive competitive advantage just like what you've achieved. 

@Jack SmithWelcome to the site.Good luck achieving those goals.See you around the forums.

I want to feel pride in having built something and I want to leave a legacy of achievement and financial security for my children and grandchildren.What do you want from real estate?  

Borrowing from friends or relatives sometimes lets the optimism (and fake TV shows) paint too rosy a picture.

I look at it as an advantage because I have tons of energy, plenty more time to build my portfolio and I'm still full of optimism about the world.

Typically with “private money,” the lender is not a professional lender like a hard money lender but rather an individual looking to achieve higher returns on their cash.

It is time to get serious and put all my efforts toward achieving my goals rather than just someone else's. 

And a local mentor, who has achieve the success I am aiming for and can help me out when I fall on my face or deviate from the tracks.

Real estate seemed like the way to achieve this goal. 7 houses later and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.