Currently looking to supplement my current activities with passive income from owning multi-family properties.  

No one likes to hear this but if you are not in a sound financial position, the first step in real estate investing is often getting into a position to enable you to invest.

The intent with a women's investor gathering that @Lisa Kohl is holding here in Boise in our case is supplemental to our monthly Investor Group meetings and quarterly informal BP style meet ups. 

The only position I see as "smart" might be (2 actually): 1. buy/flip early in the trend (but early is relative to what the cycle will be); and 2. be the enabler of purchasing r/e (as an agent/broker, lender, etc. etc).How are you approaching the current and uptrending market?

We need to do something that is going to enable our capital to appreciate with the market and like the ideas of investing but are unsure where to begin. 

This approach enabled swift action, allowing a same-day sale for $233,000.

I think it's something like "supplemental lines"  where those providers fall outside the normal providers somehow - which gives them price permissions to charge more for their product - but at least you get the insurance.  

you'll have to wait another year for seasoning purposes before a bank will consider it an "asset" enabling you to make more investments.

However, it enables you to sell to unaccredited investors and creates a tradable security.Our firm has done Reg A's before - the blue skying is the WORST.

I had a teacher in high school that used his 3 - 4 months off every summer to flip a house.I'd take the advice above... buy a multi-family in the area you want to raise your kids to supplement your income.Use the remainder of your cash (cash is king...