Thanks Steve E.

I liquidated them (the accounts, not the kids!)

Currently I have about 250K liquid which I would like to put to use other than the stock market.

I look for profitable businesses where there is a partner split, health issues, relocation issues, owner has other businesses needing their attention with more risk of loss, divorce, inherited businesses where the children want to liquidate and not run it etc.

HI,I subscribe to a e-newsletter of a local real estate agent.

This leads me to my question...Why are so many folks in the REI industry selling books and e-books?

If a buyer contacts me wanting no money down deals in commercial real estate I simply tell them in a matter of seconds that I have no interest in helping with that.I have too many clients who have liquidity, net worth, and meet lending requirements to do a deal.Those no money down deals were 4 to 6 years ago for the most part.

I'm wanting to invest in real estate more, but I am short on cash/liquid assets.

My thoughts are that in exchange for yield I get liquidity because the property is almost always easy to sell.

You may want to look at commercial properties as lenders will be looking at your net work and liquidity in addition to the property performance.