Goals.By thoroughly educating yourself on the topic and setting a 5 year vision plus smaller goals that get you to that vision, you will quickly find the strategy and path that is right for you. 

*the main speaker never completed one topic, everything was I will come back to this by Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, except for the varies types of corporations which you can Google the S type, C type and LLC..oh and SoleK.

Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/usersSet up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsRead Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investingIf you wish to tag someone in the conversation on the forum, type @ followed by their name and then select the name of that person which should appear below the comments box.

@Erin M.There are no good books I am familiar with on this topic. 

Also, looking for great books to read on the topic of real estate investing, particularly in the areas of deal finding and raising capital, would love recommendations.  

Going to a transition to a little different topic here. 

@Jeff S. has given you good advice, and I also have a handout of questions to ask a hard money lender that I give when I speak on the topic in MA and NH. 

I definitely want to increase my knowledge on this topic so I'm going to read as many books as I can.

To add on to the cost topic, for me the cost of being an agent, Realtor association (National, State, Local), MLS membership, and eKey - the very minimum to be a Realtor - is just under $200 a month if I spread it out annually. 

Hey @Mandela Muhammad ,You raised a great topic here.