Referrals - Connect with other industry professionals in Atlanta such as property management companies, commercial lenders, Lawyers with CRE experience, etc.. and ask for a referral, or even better an introduction, to brokers.2.

By day I'm a marketing manager in the sporting goods industry.

I like real estate, but my main desire that keeps me in the industry is to achieve financial freedom to do the things that I'm very passionate about. 

Concerning Education, I have no skills concerning real estate industry.

I am away from home 50-66% of the year however so the work life balance is not ideal, especially when the volatility and future of the oil industry is taken into consideration.We currently "own" our home on a 30 year mortgage, paying $1226 per month (P&I, PMI, Taxes), with approximately $6000 of equity in our home.

Which is why there used to be a mantra in the industry of "one year and one day". 

Commercial real estate is categorized into four classes, depending on function: office, industrial, multifamily, and retail.

Anyone who's had success in any field or industry has had to make sacrifices.

Your lenders are also going to require you to have some cash reserves.My statements are generalizations based on the majority of the industry.

Since your new to the industry, let me clarify because various people with mentoring programs to sell will misuse labels so prospective customers may be more willing to part with their $.Wholesaling, as the term is used currently, is a job, just like being a real estate agent.Buy, fix and flip is a business, just like any business that buys raw materials, adds value, and sells it in the marketplace.Neither are real estate investing.