thank you BenThank you JohnRegarding self-employment over a w-2 jobWhen I was just out of the Marine Corps and I had this job at Johnson Controls engineering firm because I was a science major, had a lot of calculus physics and chemistryMy job was to sell to developers and builders That wanted air and water  control devices and I was on straight commission basicallyI had like $20,000 in commissions that they  didn't pay me for I got really upset and at 25 yrs of age I didn't have very much EQ, and my emotions got the best me I basically even went to a lawyer and asked  how can I get my 20,000 in commissions here's the proof they owe me the moneyMy lawyer says it's gonna cost you 10,000 in legal fees to sue them at a minimum he's going to need that upfront as a retainerAnd then there was no guarantees I would get the 20 kThat's why I made the commitment at 25 never ever ever be a W-2 employee and I work as a 1099 alwaysThen I found a real estate 60-year-old mentor who taught me everything from distressed property to foreclosures to divorce to bankruptcy to probateI work for five hundred a week for 2 and a half years and then opened up my own business and did approximately 28 seller interviews a weekMy closing ratio in the beginning wasn't very good because I sucked at itBut with the good coaching from my teacher I got better and better and betterI quit after 2 1/2 years and started my own company on a shoestring it wasn't easyBut I made over hundred thousand dollars my first year if it wasn't for the teacher I would not know how to run a business and I would not know how to hire people and I would not know how to market and I would not know how to negotiateAnd you never stop learning because I made a Ton of money I was 29 and I made over 1 million and a quarter I rolled it back into the company which was a mistakeBut live and learn!

Learning and developing skills is my main concern. 

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.