I'm finally ready to combine these two sets of skills and start investing in real estate in my spare time.

I am familiar with Baltimore city, rules and regulations and trying to expand my skills to a property management business.

We have really high standards due to learning from very skilled craftsman and am very picky but I am realizing that maybe I need to overlook cosmetic things that others might not notice (i.e. correct trim cuts perfect paint lines, ect.).

Do you have skills you can offer other investors?

You also want to build your math skills to a point where you are very comfortable with numbers. 

I've been in restaurants most of my life, managing and opening them, and i think those skills can/will translate nicely into managing the multiple aspects of RE investing.  

It's just a matter of time before you will have to shell out some funds.3) Why not ramp up your business and acquire some of your own skills and do your own PM and learn to screen and find good tenants?

You need to enter into a JV, or some sort of partnership...one where you have a skill that can be utilized, even if it's something like time expended searching for properties.  

Hey Account Closed - Estimating where we are in the market cycle is more an art than a science. 

Right now I am learning and gaining new skills in Tampa which I plan to take to Athens so I don't have to depend on a ever so dreadful J O B and do Real Estate full time.