That's a step way too many people skip to their detriment.

People will reciprocal and you could start by doing JV or maybe shadowing a successful investor in your area.

So, I figured I should bring one to the community and have people tell me where I'm wrong and what I'm missing.  

Forget about the fantasy of foolish people thinking they should enjoy their job.

There are some "Deal Diaries" here on the BP Forums that people share their progress, in text format.  

Back before there was email and internet people serious about buying property would hand deliver offers and meet in person with checks in hand. 

Just trying to understand it all..I've heard of people refinancing, and using that money to pay them a salary to live on eventually.

So it is quite literally their job to go run around telling ten thousand people that their offer is "verbally accepted" while still soliciting higher and better offers, and taking their sweet sweet time on having the seller sign anything that makes it real, until they are certain that it's the best deal they are going to get.

But finding GOOD lease option buyers to assign to is a much more difficult task, because the reality is that 70% of people who call me on my ads are not a good fit, and likely wouldn't be able to actually exercise their "first right of purchase" on the home after I assign to them before the expiration date.

It's so nice to know people are so willing to help!