If you tap into the Lincoln, NE area I would go on appts and work some sort of joint venture with you. 

We were looking primarily at the Bend area but to avoid some culture shock in reference to the landscape, I think we will venture closer to Portland so we will be working much closer to you!

-Private Equity/ Venture Capital: Investing in PE is not for all as they are not simple to find and understand but for the sophisticated (and wealthy) investor you can get into some great PE funds that can produce some huge returns!

I am looking for resources that will help me explore how others are structuring there REI ventures and what kind of financial models they are using to analyze their investments/ business plans.

If money for down payment and rehab is an issue for you, here are two suggestions:1) Find a Joint Venture Partner to help fund your dealYou could find someone who could provide some of the cash you need for down payment, and to front the renovation costs.

Id prob participate in some joint flip venture with someone who has a well oiled machine already in place and just needs a partner, but Im too busy with helping clients buy/sell that I don't have the time to go and grind for deals locally..  

If you want to know more about securities definitions, you can check out the Howey Test or the risk capital test.A JV can be dangerously close to being a security and can cross the line but whether or not it does may depend on the level of involvement of both parties in the venture. 

Trying to get a mortgage as a 19 year old full time college student was essentially a hopeless venture, although I talked to a list of banks.

According to another of your threads (https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/88/topics/663447-outside-opinions-on-the-structure-of-this-joint-venture), the market would pay significantly more than the lien held by SPS, right?

Since then I’ve been sharpening the axe of real estate knowledge, soaking in as much information as I can to ready up for my venture into real estate.