I will then begin (with that personal capital) to purchase 2-4 unit properties (a predetermined amount each year) in order to have enough constant cash flow to feel comfortable not having a day job and pursuing "active" investing full time while my "passive" investments pull me thru the leaner months.

All of the sites I listed earlier in this thread are reputable IMO, but some are better than others and some structure their deals in ways I wouldn't be comfortable with as an investor or a promoter.  

The thing is though, since starting a business is outside his comfort zone and he would encourage that I should just be happy living a conservative life at a 9 to 5 job, it would have been a far easier business proposal for him to wrap his head around in comparison to real estate.  

I think his plan was to sell one house to pay for each child's college tuition, and then sell the remainder to fund his retirement.

Show the check to the seller when they sign the contract and tell them that it will deposited with the title company/attorney when you drop off the contract.Using an agent or attorney for the contract is completely dependent on your comfortableness with the process.

Even though the course they took told them to buy, and learn to use, a financial calculator, they are not comfortable doing so.3.

I feel female real estate agents connect with female buyers, do to the fact they have much of the input when it comes to buying a home.

What do you other ladies out there think about this? Also how do you as men ...

my child owed 24K student loans and had no hope of getting rid of the debt.

Now I agree that loaded guns are not always dangerous in a stable minded, responsible, experienced person's hand, but when you put a loaded gun in a child's hand it becomes very dangerous.

My local market is tough to invest in currently and for me, investing out of area is outside my comfort zone.