Many side plays, too.Ward Hanigan does a hands on training class in San Diego (ForeclosureForum.com).

The people that have to self manage and not WANT to self manage over paid for the property.There are many of those out there.Joe if you BUY RIGHT and do proper planning and due diligence on the front end you will NOT be in the situation of many of the type of owners mentioned.That is where a trained broker and investor can help you buy right and look for hidden costs and land mines that will strap you later on.

If they are going to be ongoing clients, you can stay as an insider.Get liability insurance.

Hi Al,I guess I got wrapped up in the "exit" survey and missed that you are doing ongoing surveys for existing tenants!

They'll (banks) will lend you all kinds of money when you're still in school / training, because you're a "good bet"....once you get out and they see that debt IN REPAYMENT, you're suddenly a leper.

Am I correct in that the keys to these kinds of deals and their risk mitigation (and any deal, for that matter) are thorough due diligence and effective ongoing management?

Check with a couple of realtors near your area and offer to make coffee, clean, run errands to learn more about real estate.Check with workforce commission to see if there is financial aid for RE training/classes available.

If I were you, I would start by taking some time to make a list of all the tasks that you feel you could train an assistant to do while not impacting the value you give to your customers.

Corrections yes, but I think the tech choo-choo train has years to go- way past Google Glass and iWatches and at least until we all have chip implants in our bodies!

As David implied, you're essentially asking a stranger to:- Devote a significant amount of time to you- Train you to potentially become their competitorI don't know too many people who would do that for a perfect stranger for nothing in return.