Why are you waiting until next year to get started?

I'm better off just mailing a letter and waiting. 

Any advice on who to call next, or do I just need to wait for a real estate sign to pop up?

You said it took 4 months, but how many man hours went into that waiting on hold or coordinating the paper trail? 

Several life events have led me to Real Estate Investments because I know this will allow me to fund and donate to research studies for Children's Cancer in the future.My brain is eager to learn more, and my ears waiting to hear from wholesalers, hard money lenders, contractors, and other motivated investors out there!!  

Please beware because many times the title is not clear and yet they sell it in an auction then you must have to wait to close while they get the title cleared.

The 6 months that you are waiting for the refi should give you a taste of what it is like being a landlord.  

Waiting patiently, hope to hear soon.

Well, this is where landlordinging  is the crucial part of the equation.While you wait for all the appreciation and rents to rise and debt to fall (be it a few years or many), you have to manage the property (and in fact add value through good long term tenants, a kept up building etc).

Can't wait to make my first deal.