To me, I find it very valuable to develop relationships with agents.

Over 30 yrs LE here, your experience will be valuable identifying neighborhoods.Locate and attend 3 different local REIA club meetings great place to meet people gather resources and info.

Where could I start, what questions should I be asking to identify opportunities, and how can I maybe find a mentor without joining an REI?

Building a new development on the site.Interested in hearing from anyone with experience. 

My name is James Radcliffe, I live in Connecticut just outside of New York and I am currently involved in developing an online sales platform for a 30 year old art business here.

More info here: http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/187...As far as getting started, developing your strategy and whether to get lic'd or not....It's easy to get lost in all of the info and different investing approaches to real estate.  

I am a "Business Developer" with StrongBrook Direct.Hey All,  The StrongBrook Group is made of 3 organizations:StrongBrook (They do real estate Investing.  

I had a related question about working with other investors to identify tenant-buyers.  

I have been researching and developing my real estate investment strategy for over a year.

Just look at the history of any law... ever.This was a line of REI I was interested in, will definitely have to keep tabs on these developments.