@Frank BonzaiAs @Oleg Shalumov stated, there's really no script that can produce results.

Upfront, I know very little about Detroit, but from following Amazon HQ2 I found that Detroit didn't make the top 20 due to concerns about the availability of producing, attracting, and retaining talent. 

But I'd like some insight on how valuable having or creating a network of high income producing investors can be.

I told him I wanted to invest in real estate somehow, and he talked me into finding apartment buildings for sale that produced X amount of cash flow and obviously him and a few other associates would fund it.

But no amount of lifestyle changes or pay cuts is going to produce the capital I need.

Granted, it's pretty dang nice and with its amenities and features it'll produce an incredibly high gross rental income.

One of the lesser-known dirty secrets is most reality show airtime (on HG and others) are paid for by the producers to the network (rather than the other way around).   

I was definitely considering that approach.I'm just not sure the legal ramifications with that - I was going to lawyer up and produce "Waiver of Redemption" paperwork so that there's no gap in the title.

Talk to lenders and see what your options are for traditional or commercial loans.I also recommend you research markets that produce the best cash-flow and invest there instead of in your own back yard.

For example, If I lend 75k and return double the amount in 7.2 years (lets say someone deals with me) and I purchase a property of 70k which produces a cash flow of $513.24 (not including mortgage since I pay everything up front with his cash).