You will gain lots and lots of valuable experience and knowledge.

But since we just moved out of the house can’t we use the capital gains clause where we don’t pay capital gains taxes on our primary residence?

As someone new, I want to show investors that I’m willing to take some financial risks as well, in order to participate in the gains.

Right now I am in a paid mentorship program but I didn't join that until I gained a clarity and focus of my short and long term goals.

It might be a little hard for the average joe to obtain it, but if they want to, they can figure  it out.My point being, is I don't see how one can gain a competitive advantage because most investors are going after the same type of list/categories (absentee, senior with equity, vacant, etc).

I think you are on the right steps towards gaining more properties.

If you want to work in the Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Racine markets just to gain experience, I have plenty of jobs that you can do :) Message me any time. 

The quality of agents runs the gamut, but I bet you don't ask the attorney to represent you and tell them I won't pay you until I am sure you win the case (obviously some do work that way but talking about the situations where that is not the case).That being said, if you ask someone to run around and do a bunch of "free" work eventually that tapers off as they find clients that respect their time, energy, resources (assuming they are worth their weight). 

To get there, I need to gain the experience in RE transactions, functioning as a landlord (with a PM company) and build my investment fund to multiples of where it’s at today.SHORT-TERM GOAL – I have been studying RE investing for about one month and I’m interested to start with detached single family and multifamily houses.

We have some capital gains this year and read about opportunity zones and how they can partially and permanently remove tax payments on capital gains depending on how long you hold the investment.