I will look for real estate meet ups on meetups, however most of those things i think are scams by people just teaching you "their" method and you have to buy in.

I like that.Yes, in the interests of full disclosure, Thomas is right... there are more options.I have an acquaintance in DC who does quite well using a method Thomas would certainly approve of.

I feel like just closing without the added work of securing financing will make the process less stressful but it's a lot of money.

I am closing on my second home using the brrrr method.

I'm looking at forming an SPE to hold the funds and secure the loan.

@Phil G.SEC regulations cover those penny stocks and other market securities, in addition to the investment brokerage accounts.  

In Virginia, it's actually written into the landlord tenant laws that landlord can require a renter's insurance policy and actually purchase one and charge the tenant if tenant chooses not to purchase one, as long as total cost of security deposit and renter's policy equals less than 2 months' rent.  

The 300% swings in price from one carrier to another are what I don't understand.  2) Security Deposits.Are you simply holding these in a savings account, in your own name, separate from your other funds? 

Their security deposit is enough for me to claim unpaid rent once they leave next month.  

Does pursuing the non-performing note ever pan out by securing a collateral interest in the property?