My plan right now is to purchase my first investment property this summer, preferably near where I live in Marin County.  

First I am sorry for your loss, and as a former Marine, I am sure it has been tough to manage these affairs at such a great distance.Second, I think your plan is great.  

Hi @John Suralik - used Zillow on my last rental, it did the cross posting, and got me responses immediately. 

Alternatively I can go to a non accredited educational offering and take ala cart classes, cross my fingers and apply to entry level positions.

I am a math man myself so if the numbers dont make sense then I'm not making an offer but I come to the cross road that I dont have the capital to fund my own rentals.

Hoping to cross paths soon.

Needless to say it took awhile to implement anything I had learned.I dabbled in investing while I was still in the Marines but our deployment cycle at the time was pretty insane so I didn't get much beyond having a few single family rental homes on the side.I medically retired after a back injury a few years ago. 

These 2 entities don't cross over in what is being offered to me so I'm getting and learning in all directions.This is my growth year!

This actually crossed my mind.  

You can’t just keep your fingers crossed that the company you sell them to does the right thing with them.