Also, the ad falls down the list so quickly that it gets lost.  

If the deal falls through, then the lease contract is void.

When I go to college during the fall of 2014, I hope to either major or minor in real estate.

When I go to college during the fall of 2014, I hope to either major or minor in real estate.

The other benefit is that you may get a heads up phone call on your next deal from the listing agent on either a property changing status or one that is falling out of escrow.

Who you raise money from, how much, how you solicit and how you structure the investment....all things that would fall into that concept.Provided you gain an understanding of all of that, it becomes a function of raising the capital in either equity or debt or a combination of the two.

A lot of short sales fall apart after the S.I. is run and more liens show up, hope it helps.

When you say "fell in to my lap,"  nothing falls in to anyone's lap in this business. 

We would rather see one large claim from an unavoidable cause (tree falling for ex.) than a string of small ones.

Lack of paperwork isn't a reason to let a deal fall apart.