Realize it is not as easy to access as traditional cash flow, but it also is not real hard to access (especially for Owner Occupied (OO): virtually everyone offers HELOC on OO).Tax benefits is almost sure thing.Interest rates are near all time low.San Diego has a great track record for long-term appreciation. 

One tip that's worked well for me is to use a channel manager like Siteminder to advertise on multiple sites and keep track of it all. 

I'd still like to join any local meet-ups in my area; I'm technically apart of one and know of another one that's trying to get started that I lost track of.

I am currently starting my real estate license course which will put me on track to becoming an agent and hopefully starting my own brokerage later down the road ( as well as build my real estate empire of course ).

Currently I track rent and expenses in excel.

He was also very bad at tracking the payments and management fees.

(In addition to those sources, there are a few others that are less common, such as HUD and SBA)Your track record of experience will have significant impact on whether a loan is considered, and whether you can negotiate the terms of the loan, so be prepared to demonstrate your experience, or the team you have built around you who has the experience.Typically smaller deals under 50 spaces will be best suited for banks.

Wondering if there are any recommendations for a crash course approach to maybe put me on track for finding the right SS option. 

Does anyone out here have a spreadsheet that they use to track income and expenses for Joint Venture properties.

You can have one side of a train track be worth 50% more and have nice tenants while on the other side of the train track .2 miles away it's the hood.