As long as you're reputable, and I know you so I know you are, then I think having a real estate sales license is mostly upside.  

I've been exploring the option of investing out of state since CO has become such a tough place to get good cash flow.

I'd love to rent to a family, I should definitely do a better job exploring that option. 

Originally posted by @Bram Spiero:@David Dachtera, that's avoiding the question by sprinkling some meaningless platitudes and making assumptions about the person asking the question.No shame in charging for education but I've found that when pricing is a mystery that needs to be discovered only after demonstrating my willingness to spend, it's best to stay away....and that is an excuse for not making an intelligent exploration of what you're buying so you understand the value when you see the price. 

For Credit Unions, I've heard people like working with Numerica, but don't have experience with them myself.Rob Rowley has a great reputation as an attorney and I consider him as the one I use.

"The Real Secret of Success Choose Your Suffering.Everything you want in life; every goal you want to achieve; every dream you want to manifest: all comes with a price tag.Legitimate success in any endeavor requires that you pay upfront, in full and with your own sweat.There is no other way.To achieve any goal, you must choose the suffering that is right for you.Subsequently, you must live with the consequences of that decision.The moment you choose to not continue to pay the price of success, is the moment you choose to suffer the consequences of failure, which is, the WORST kind of suffering.The suffering cost of failure is ALWAYS higher than the suffering price of success.The cost and consequences of success in a job, relationship, career, or any area can cause a monumental amount of disruption and chaos in your life.Here are some examples of the suffering costs of failure:If you lack financial discipline, you will suffer the consequences of debt, harassing bill collectors and sleepless nights.If you do not manage your diet, you will suffer the cost of diabetes and poor fitting clothing.By not keeping your promises or honoring your commitments, you will suffer the loss of reputation and contaminated character.Sooner or later, each of us must choose to pay the price of success or pay the cost of failure.Sooner or later, you will come to the understanding that you MUST choose your suffering.The price of success is often more than people are willing to pay.

Saving for downpayment- my husband & I are exploring being a hard money lender & the creative real estate investing strategies like bird-dogging etc. here in Canada.

@Karl Johnson@Charlie TijerinaYes Karl escrow can be used exactly as you are asking...and Charlie hit the nail on the head.Talk to a reputable loan servicing company about your needs.

We got rained out of work today so I've been exploring the site, and haven't left the computer all day.

I am going to work out of these only because of the strength of the market and by having to take my time to come down there I met some nice people that are reputable and real.. these companies are really really something.. cannot believe folks get sucked into buying form them  its astounding..