Forum rules don't allow Sherman to promote his own club but I can mention it, the DCREIA. 

They gave you some general knowledge of the real estate investment world and basically promoted their classes that they offer.

This is not the place to promote your articles.

Actually I am colaborating on promote a very serious oceanview development.

I read your intro with interest, because I am also based in Portland, also in the Tech industry, and have roughly the same goals... just a little further in my career.With the kind of background you have, the best route to your goal is probably to work very hard, get promotions, be frugal and squirrel away as much cash as you can, and use your likely good credit to leverage yourself into properties that will throw off some serious cash in 5-10 years.  

Today, I got a marketing postcard from an agent promoting Cape Coral.

It only exist with the real estate agent trying to promote this listing. 

It was a promotional seminar and I had registered for the real workshop coming up in Oct 23, 24, 25 plus got a free tablet with all kinds of useful real estate resources and tools pre-loaded into it.  

While I promote wholesaling as a way to get started, I also - like a lot of BP'ers - think you need to be responsible in making offers to sellers; you need to KNOW that you can fund a deal via your buyers or you can really jerk around a homeowner who thinks they found a solution to their problem.  

If you think training is costly, consider how much more ignorance will cost you.You can find a lot of people that promote themselves on this site.