Anyone have any contacts or are themselves real estate professionals in this area?

I think that depending on your brokerage's location that can be something to try.Trying to convert FSBOs to listings is another tried and true method of getting clients/listings, it's not easy but you can have some success with enough effort.

Forbes has a habit of putting something like this out every few years.The "bad" thing about investing your IRA in real estate is that the main Wall Street players do not have control over your funds and the means to earn commissions selling financial instruments.His arguments are entirely tilted towards to negative and not providing any context or perspective.I could just as easily pick 3 or 4 historically bad stock investments (Enron) or high fee annuities, and make it sound like that was all that you could expect if you went to a conventional brokerage - which is clearly not the case.For someone who understands real estate as an asset class, there is the potential to have your IRA produce consistent returns and have true diversification away from the news-cycle volatility of conventional financial products.

Half of the stories are likely true, but we still evict them. 

The weekend we spent seeing properties and network with other real estate professionals versus hanging out with our friends.

That is especially true in KC. 

Sure there's some expense and paperwork involved, but that's the cost of doing business as a professional.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

I am looking to connect with any flippers in the Columbus market who are professionals and have the capacity & desire to take on more deals.