You will also want to address in the JV agreement that the land will be used as collateral to secure construction financing to complete the project contemplated by the JV partnership.In addition, you'll want to carefully describe your own contributions to the JV along with each parties responsibilities, and for prudence what each party would gain through the projects success and alternatively lose should the project fail.

I'd recommend checking out the Black Diamond meeting in Waltham (alternates every other month with it's 2nd location in Worcester, net meeting in Waltham is Sep).  

Any alternative strategies to consider here?

On most streets, the on street parking alternates sides each day and the city enforces it.  

We've been doing it for 8 years, and helped countless investors launch, and grow their SS Business:  www.SelfStorageInvesting.com/academy. 4.

Is there any alternative to taking a distribution from an old retirement plan, and doing a rollover to purchase investment property without taking a 20-30% hit from Uncle Sam if you want to have access to the cash flow?

You might try our Waltham meeting - we alternate Worcester and Waltham each month. 

I need to investigate greendot as an alternative.

Alternately, investors can submit a signed statement from a licensed professional (attorney, accountant, registered investment advisors, or broker-dealers) confirming that the investor is in fact accredited.  

I work offshore in the oil and gas industry,  and I dont want to be offshore for my entire career, so I am looking to start investing in the hopes of working my way onshore and developing alternate income.From perusing on this site, buy and hold for a while, seems to be what Im gravitating towards, mostly because I am gone half the year currently, however, Im looking to learn a bit about everything and see where my interests/knowledge lie, as well as meet new people and maybe make some friends.As for fun interests, they are diverse and laughable at times.