As for the more typical and stream-line brokers, what would you recommend as far as residential goes, it may offer good programs for new agents, competitive and reasonable brokerage fees, great enviornment, etc.

CA law carries very little weight as precedent in my state.

A blanket loan is a massive loss of control @Justin White My seller was stuck!

I kept getting talked into taking PM jobs at startup construction companies every couple of years, and I couldn't deal with the weight of building someone else's company without getting any of the perks and all of the stress.  

I am a Real Estate accountant so I am very familiar with booking real estate activity throughout the year and producing Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss statements however I am unfamiliar with how to analyze properties for investment purposes.

I'll glance at the Zestimate, but don't put much weight in it.

Non-performing notes can create huge returns and also huge losses.  

So, helped their cash flow each month, but wasn't as much of a income loss on our part.  

@Paul Timmins thanks for the response, few things:1) thanks for the advice I will check out the REI groups for sure2) I will make sure to search for HUD homes, as I am open to purchasing distressed properties.3) When you say student housing, are you referring to a specific program with the university where you are some type of preferred vendor of some sort, or just renting to kids in general.?  

Many of these give sales pitches, gurus try to sell their products or mentoring programs, or someone tries to get you to invest in a REI Fund by a group of people pooling their money, for some REI and promising an unrealistic return.