I feel like I'm missing some piece of the puzzle, but I just don't know what it is.

He may be an E-7 or an E-5, but it'll be in the same ballpark.Recruiters are generally folks that have been promoted beyond many of their peers, who intend to remain in the military for 20 years.

Unless you are well capitalized and don't need participation from lenders, then seed capital is the critical piece of the equation to get things going. 

I already have my list of subs and suppliers that I've dealt with for years, so the construction piece is taken care of.  

I also purchased a few pieces of land through a tax deed sale, using profits to purchase a 4-plex I held for a couple years.

I'm not sure how often other investors mail out pieces but I like to take a two step approach.

It is an investment of moneyThere is an expectation of profits from the investmentThe investment of money is in a common enterpriseAny profit comes from the efforts of a promoter or third party

We use our Nets, or our ability to decipher through what is available to us, while hunting for Fish sized pieces of information that will help us succeed.

My piece of advice would be to get more focused clarity on what your goals are an how you plan on achieving them.

In just the past month, I've met a handful of clients who match that exact demographic: young professionals who are ready to get their piece of the American Dream, but see how much a piece of crap 1950's tract-home is going to cost them in the Bay Area, and think to themselves "you've got to be kidding."