And you would only qualify for that if your primary job (where you spend the most hours) is in a real estate field, but also it has to be at a business that you own at least 5% of (so W-2 income typically doesn't qualify). 

Would love to receive any advice and connections in the field as well as share knowledge in my areas of expertise.

So people bought and ate the losses till 2007/2008 came and punched them square in the face and they suddenly realized how little they knew about the real estate business and the charlatans at play in a field of the naive.  

Some of the podcasts that I have found to be helpful in finding syndicators include The Real Estate Guys Radio Show, The Passive Wealth Strategy Show, Passive Investing From Left Field, and The Cash Flow Connections Real Estate Podcast.  

A history of past sales can indicate their effectiveness in the field.

Don't hesitate to seek advice from experienced investors or professionals in the field.

In addition to checking out @Jim Pfeifer’s Left Field Investors, I’d recommend you go to Ian Ippolito’s Real Estate Crowdfunding Review and his Private Investor Club.  

For example:If you could not invest in the field you were brokering, which situation would you chooseBroker of Multifamily and Investor in IndustrialBroker of Industrial and Investor of Multifamily  I would greatly appreciate any thoughts and insights.Thanks.   

Some people in the field do as much as 30%, but the amount is what you are comfortable with.

You advertised 9% cap rates, said to expect 7% (I understood and agreed to that), and it delivered 3% over three years.And now, from left field, I have a different real estate investor weighing in.