thier education and Their personalities?

This weekend, I decided it is time to jump in, introduce myself, and see how I can help others and continue my education into the real estate investing world. 

Many still leverage agents to help get top dollar and avoid the investment of time it takes to sell a houseOn the buying side many investors avoid agents b/c I don't list homeruns on the MLS.

That said, you should educate yourself on the rules and have an attorney you are using. 

I did the continued education package as well, so I believe I have 270 hours of material. 

Now that I own my family home in the Bay Area with some built in equity, I’m ready to leverage that equity and my savings to get into the game.

You'd end up with more leverage than you have now, but that's how REI portfolios are built. 

Hey Sage- Sounds like you have a good understanding of how to leverage and invest, now it's just a matter of committing to growth.

How many years of experience and education should a real estate agent have before I move forward into a deal with them?

I am a beginner investor who has continued to educate myself in regards to REI.