You guys are awesome and have given us a lot to think about.

I copy/pasted his email, I think he was an ivy league undergrad and school of hard knocks post grad.Obviously I am stupid; at the beginning we discussed commission numerous times so I thought he had integrity, whoops!

. $15k isn't a lot to purchase an investment unit.

There are numerous BP podcasts where successful investors discuss exactly how they do that.Good luck,Cynthia

I am guessing location, and lay of the land have a lot to do with that.

They have been marketed over the years under various names, including Self-Directed Installment Notes, Deferred Sales Trusts, Structured Sales, Structured Settlements, and numerous other names, each with a slightly different twist as to how they are structured and how they work. 

I've done numerous vertical enlargements of 4 story buildings as well as horizontal extensions but no full on ground up projects.

Every Sunday at our open house I talk to several people with those small dreams seeking my help but not much I can do for them.I found a lot to develop inside the city and will be opening it up with "try before you buy" small manufactured houses this fall.

If you're going to be a landlord here, be very careful.http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/08/01/lotto-winne...

So the brokerage isn't paying for a whole lot to keep you, but the good ones will give you support when you need it.Take advantage of brokerage that offers recorded training classes.