Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: http://www.biggerpockets.com/meetSet up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsRead Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingCheck out BP Podcasts: http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/category/podcast/If you wish to tag someone in the conversation on the forum, type @ followed by their name and then select the name of that person which should appear below the comments box.

That sounds strange, but you have nothing holding you back from venturing out of your security...because you have lost that security blanket that was your job.I would venture to say, that most of the success stories in history, started out where you are right now...me included.So, with nothing holding you back, and with plenty of time on your hands (time will always be your greatest asset...since you can never get it back), if you want to get into REI, you need to do the following:1 - Learn,2 - Learn some more,3 - Keep learning.Places to learn (before you say "that costs money"), that don't cost any money are:1 - Online education sites that have free articles written by experts in their fields.2 - Free e-books, that you can get online.3 - Joining your local REIC's to both learn and network.4 - ...and never stop learning...even when you become a success at this (and you will)Also, three very critical actions you MUST follow to be a success:1 - Always think possitive.2 - Train yourself to think of future "obstacles" as temporary problems...and you are the problem solver. 

My example of success and doing hard things gives my children an example to follow and I can lead them along that path.Thanks for reading everyone.  

They do it all the time......and I would absolutely throw the other non permitted investors under the bus if they were doing something that I was not allowed to do just because I followed the law.       

Regarding your question about refinancing and cashing out the equity in the home, the Fannie Mae guideline states:“The property must have been purchased (or acquired) by the borrower at least six months prior to the disbursement date of the new mortgage loan except for the following...”The exemptions to this rule being if the property was purchased with all cash and qualified under the delayed financing rule, or if the borrower acquired the property through some form of inheritance (Divorce, etc).

Talks a lot about focusing on listings vs. buyers and the follow up/touches that are required to really build out a business.

Most hard money lenders do not strictly speaking have a mortgage on your house - they just have a promissory note secured by your house.Jake, I know from seeing you on here that you're new and looking to get rocking and rolling in real estate.

You can tell no one comes to check the mail or anything because there's never any trash on trash day and the yard is always overgrown in the months following the winter season.

I don't exactly follow what you mean by "where we are in the cycle," but assuming you mean that RE is at or near it's peak in value, that would not influence my decision, especially if I could pay it off within a couple years with my W2 income.

I get all kinds of ridiculous prices, that honestly some of those quotes have pushed me into DIY and in part, “I am grateful to them for that” because I have since learned a lot, but I do wish that at times, contractors would look past gender and even race before spitting out ridiculous prices.Secondly:Lack of follow-up.Not sure if it is just Denver, or if others are experiencing the same problem.Met with a contractor for come work needed on a property that I am purchasing.Seller will finance some of the repairs.Need contractor to provide a written quote.Bad enough we are having some language issues as he speaks Spanish, I don’t so communication is via google translate (oh boy).He came highly recommended, so I am trying to hang in there, but only for so long.Still waiting on him to send me the written quote.Sent out a reminder this evening asking him to provide by tomorrow or at least let me know if I should move on to find someone else.I really cannot understand what is happening with contractors in the Denver Metro Area.Perhaps they just have way too much business that if your project appears too small, then they will relax on responses?