I suggest that instead of getting a ton of conflicting advice from people who may or may not have the knowledge and experience to guide you to a correct decision, you spend a little money and engage a real estate consultant, specifically one who has earned the “counselor of real estate “ designation.  

I am eager to enhance my knowledge, gain valuable experience, and actively engage with real estate agents.

Here's a partial excerpt of the definition of a Real Estate Broker - which requires being licensed:"...buys or offers to buy, sells or offers to sell or otherwise deals in options on real estate, or advertises or holds himself out as engaged in the business of selling, exchanging, purchasing, renting or leasing real estate, or assists or directs in the procuring of prospects or the negotiation or completion of any agreement or transaction which results or is intended to result in the sale, exchange, purchase, leasing or renting of any real estate."

Although advisors can engage in discussions with external investment professionals, they are prohibited from recommending these opportunities to clients.

And I will also try to get engaged with the local REIA in my area. 

Again, as @Chris Seveney has stated, you will need to engage the services of an attorney specializing  in real estate.  

If the activity of an individual or entity rises to the level of a 'trade or business', it falls under purview of IRC Sec 6041 and its related regs as encapsulated in Treas Reg 1.6041-1(a)(1)(i):Payments required to be reportedExcept as otherwise provided in §§ 1.6041-3 and 1.6041-4, every person engaged in a trade or business shall make an information return for each calendar year with respect to payments it makes during the calendar year in the course of its trade or business to another person of fixed or determinable income described in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(A) or (B) of this section.

@King Dada Hi Damahri, best advice I can give is to really engage in the BiggerPockets forums as well as sign up for their webinars to learn more.

What I do can be duplicated by anyone with time freedom who can engage the occasional issue.

Banks and credit unions can also offer flexibility for investors that engage in strong relationship-building strategies, offering discounts and solid loans in exchange for borrowers willing to use the institution for other purposes (savings accounts, etc.).