Bull crap on "Get Rich Quick" you can do all the things these gus advertise yourself and "Get Rich Slow." Real estate speculation is for suckers, What you want to do is find the "Deal" in a growing area.
Find the "DEAL" in the hotest neighborhood. Find the piece of property that is buyable at a purchase price 50% 60% 70% (etc.) less than all the other properties surrounding it.
These deals don't come everyday but they are out there. You just got to know where to look!
The basic idea is to bet somebody else's money. Pick a hot market where prices are going up and chase them. Get as close to nothing invested as possible through high LTV mortgages, stoked by mortgage insurance if necessary. Sell in a year if the price went up. Rents are just partially covering debt service.
If the price doesn't go up you have a huge mortgage liability to service and nothing much to show for it. Default. Give the house to the bank. Let it be the one to sell it at a loss. Not very honest, and won't do wonders for your credit rating. I don't doubt that a few operators get several "hits" in a row and make money, though.
"Does anyone have experience re: the heavily advertised 'get rich quick' in real estate programs?"
No, but if you want a real good discount on a copy of Matthew Lesko's "Free Money to get a Better Home" you talk to me.