A non-publically traded group of properties or blind pool can be set up as a Private Placement along with all the rules that entails.

I post them in the Event's section- you can find the latest one here.We've been getting together 6 months or so, and I really look forward to seeing the group grow.There's also a meetup group linked in that thread that you can join.Hope to see you on Jan 5th!

Also if anyone knows any real estate investment groups in the Tampa area, I would love to hear about them 

I did more digging and found out that yes, this so called mentor, is nothing more than a big-wig for the MLM company 'Gen-E Group'.  

I also recommend attending as many investor groups as you can to see what other investors are doing.As far as flipping houses, check out J Scott's book on Flipping Houses.

Like many others in my age group, I landed a state job.

BTW We have an investor's MeetUp group in Hot Springs.

We could partner with fellow REI group investors who have flipped, but with what we want to invest, the margins would be too small. 

@Nicole Frawley, I second @Robert White's comments on the Binghampton REIA - it is a bit of a hike for you, but good group of folks.  

Hi, @Judi Smith,Some folks from the Tax Liens and Deeds study group in my investing community are going.