I flipped my first SFR nearly 40 years ago and I'm still learning practical new things every time that I visit here.I got your PM about my investment planning and my reply ran much longer than I thought it would, which is par for the course. :-) I'm just wrapping it up and will get it to you later today. 

I'm looking for the practical, general investor experience answer.  

After passing the course, I didn't feel ready to take the exam, so I purchased a different text book (Florida Real Estate Principles, Practices & Law) and read that.

Just practice the "Golden Rules" and you will create a great team as well as a lifelong  friendship. 

Chris, Harrisonburg is a college town.  

I practice in the federal courts (bankruptcy) and am not familiar with many of the local attorneys.

 :)Finally on a practical level...

I'm no different.I'm currently just trying to learn absolutely as much as possible while analyzing properties I find on the MLS, mostly for the experience and practice it gives me.

Most large commercial deals get closed with title companies but it is standard practice to close SFR and small commercial with attorney's.

There's a constant flow of students at one of the most expensive small colleges around!