About 350 miles away I found a store that had a lot of them, so I got online and ordered 50 squares plus roof wrap, ice gard, plastic cap nails, roofing nails, etc. 

I could have paid TWICE as much for them at Macy's or Nordstrom's, but I got them at the outlet store. 

In 2009, without knowing anything at all about real estate, I bought my first investment property with a partner (a good friend) - an old gutted hardware store that we turned into a quadplex.  

In the beginning of the year, I went to a couple local RE meetups, I scrolled through some BP forum posts and didn't participate, and read 2 Robert Kiyosaki books (not Rich Dad, Poor Dad (yet)) that I picked up from the thrift store.

Keep in mind that the IRS tries to minimize the scope of "geographical area" so a property around the corner will count, but a property on the other side of the city may not.

And, in the Capitol city too, the Division of Real Estate is just around the corner!

I've partnered in a mail services store, a wireless store, a hotel, and a web marketing business in the past.While in Dallas, I flipped a few properties.  

There are also other good markets in Indiana, including the NW corner, which is in the Chicago MSA, but has the lower taxes and landlord friendly environment of Indiana.  

I know someone who owns a diamond store in houston.

I was a cart pusher at a major retail super store.