@Matt Tager Hi Matt,As you will continue to find, and as @Jaysen Medhurst, and @Mike Dymski stated above, your largest asset in investing will be your network.

I'm with everyone else here in that just jump in and get involved you don't need to buy until your ready but you need to figure out the industry and get around people with experience to learn... buying people coffee and joining clubs to get your name out there as being involved and to learn is going to your largest ROI investment of your life should you decide to dive and in make this a focus.

I hope all is well and I'm still doing everything I can to grow the largest empire on earth!  

there are many mortgage servicing companies, one of the largest being FCI.

Don't be like some that spend more time picking out their clothes in the morning than buying what might be the largest purchase you'll ever make(a property).  

These are the 2 largest Industries in Metro Detroit, both near this city.

my largest building is 42,000 sq ft...i prefer low coverage lots, so less building and more land these days

However, I place the largest portion of blame on the banks, as they are ultimately responsible for choosing who they lend to.

.~ You will get to write off the interest and insurance etc. you pay on the rental building, (which you are not counting in your cash flow but will be the largest part of your payment for years to come.~ While appreciation should not be your main goal, it is cash flowing positively so you can afford to wait around and see if it does appreciate giving you a possible additional exit strategy in the future.~ The rent income will could towards your PITI vs. income ratio next year making it easier to get mortgages etc.~ Finally, if that second mortgage *really* bothers you on an emotional level you can use part of the cash flow coming out of the new property to get rid of that debt sooner.:)

Cowabunga has about 120 stores and is one of the largest franchisees in the country.