That was a powerful experience.   

@Nichole LandowRather than looking at the equation like your losing something, focus on the positive.

I have been in the real estate business since 2003 with licenses in Michigan and Florida but have only recently gotten involved with a new business plan of real estate investing with a focus on rentals.

My main focus starting out is wholesaling.

@Mark Doty I don't know if I have a definitive answer to your question, but if I were in your shoes I would start this journey by focusing on the lender relationship.

If that's the case, I would highly recommend you trend very carefully and focus more so on whether what they teach adheres to Dodd-Frank and SAFE, aka major federal laws on residential financing transactions.

Find a house in decent shape and focus on the areas that will increase the value and appeal to people simultaneously. 

They do not underwrite any deals, they're simply managers of their pipeline, making as many touches as possible, and focusing on qualify conversations.

If you focus, you can certainly achieve all your goals with REI!

This meeting we propose would NOT be intended as a "competition" with that one.What we are considering, however, would be focused less on information and more on informal networking, and learning through guided conversation and possibly even opportunities for evaluating or pitching deals.