It's a great way to build a cash vehicle that you can tap into at any time and the money will continue to grow for you even while you're accessing it.

I would strongly recommend attending one or two so you can start networking and meeting people in the industry.

Are people building in the area? 

I have additional space on the lot where I think that I could build an additional duplex or maybe two small single family dwellings.

You could probably live for free, build equity, and save more for your next purchase!

I'm currently a novice trying to break into the real estate industry in any form or fashion, and I'm willing to collaborate on joint ventures. 

Purchase price: $2,225,000 Cash invested: $350,000 Purchased a 40k sqft ft mixed use building on Main st in Middletown, CT.

If you have not run your own business beyond real estate before, I strongly recommend that you get in touch with SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) at www.score.org.They are a free resource (part of SBA) that will help you to evaluate the financials of the company you're looking at buying, build a business plan and to understand what you're getting into. 

Another option you may not have considered is to work with a developer and build a multi-family property in a desirable area, leverage ECO construction benefits available ($5 to $15 per sq. ft.) and cost segregation and bring in a management company to manage the property once it is ready for occupancy.

These buildings are zoned like hotels and have all the requirements you need to rent and make money accordingly.