Here are a few I recommend: "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Roberto Kiyosaki; "Set for Life" by Scott Trench; "The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing" by Spencer; "The BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide" found here on BP; "The Book on Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Tuner.

Here are a few I recommend: "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Roberto Kiyosaki; "Set for Life" by Scott Trench; "The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing" by Spencer; "The BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide" found here on BP; "The Book on Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Tuner.

The listing agents hate it when I tell them I will present my buyer clients offer in person.

I would like to find a lender who can approve me based on the property and what it will bring in monthly as a rental rather than on my personal finance and credit. 

What’s more, doing a detailed market research, making a feasibility analysis, getting to know similar minded investors through networking are some of the ways that a person venturing into that field can avoid pitfalls.Good luck!

Im happy to share any info I have based on my personal expierences along with my referl network.

You just don't go 15 years without major expenses.Will you go to Memphis in person to take a look at this property or others? 

From the description of the duties that a broker will help you out with, it sounds like this is the type of person that I really need from the get go to help me get started out right.I'm thinking one of the first calls I make is to call one of these brokers, and develop a good relationship with a good broker.

They are not typically designed to create a profit for the person running it, although frequently that person does well on the deals that come through the REIA's membership.

All transactions involving your IRA must be "arm's length," meaning that you or any other "disqualified person" can't be involved directly or indirectly, and that is not the case as you described above.