Are there any REI Networks that meet regularly that you know of and attend in the DMV area?

The people at the local hardware store where I usually buy my paint have recommended the Zinsser B.I.N. saying its the only primer that will block the nicotine stain, and as you stated it is very expensive.

We own 2 mobile home parks, 4 homes, and 1 convenience store in that area and one more convenience store in a different city.

I was going to set up another account to store it in and wait for the use but it seemed like a waste of the money and I felt I should be using it to reinvest into something else until it is needed. 

@Amy Turnbull  Do you mean sales tax the same as if you bought something from a store? 

As has been stated on these forums regularly, the seller also benefits greatly given the consistent return of the note and at a much higher rate than one would receive from a bank and with less volatility than would be experienced in the stock market.In my uneducated opinion syndication offers higher potential for return whereas seller financing offers more financial flexibility.

I could store some supplies maybe, etc... 

If you have one where you are netting $100 a month but have to be in regular contact with the owner as well as mitigate the inevitable problems that arise when then interact with the tenant directly, the juice is just not worth the squeeze. 

this, as opposed to going to a private money lender or hard money lender who is probably using an insurance company or other people to get the moneyI've never really tried to myself, but in my mind, it makes more sense to go direct to the store, as opposed to going through a middlemanI'm not sure if this works or if they only work with banks and lenders.

Working directly with sellers is the bulk of the equity capture I need at the buy.Look for tired plexes, carpet and a dumpster in the driveway, yard/moving sale holders, places for rent and to your circle you deal with regularly.