Newbie Learning Advice or Opportunities

[Alexander Layson]

Hi all,

I just graduated college, moved back in with my parents, debt free and started a job in mechanical engineering. I originally planned on staying at home to save up for a house and invest in stocks, but recently started researching side hustles and REI caught my interest instantly; it is something I am passionate about as well as can help me reach my goals of financial freedom in the next decade or two. I have been reading every book I can get my hands on and when I'm at my day job I listen to real estate podcasts when I can. My work is pretty laid back and doesn't demand much overtime which gives me the evenings and weekends to study. I was wondering if there are any specific books that anyone would recommend for investing in an expensive market like the PNW where I live and or OOS investing, although I am pretty skeptical of the latter.

I'm also curious if anyone knows of any opportunities, workshops, events, or classes where I can shadow the entire process of another investor over weekends and or perhaps even volunteer with rehab projects. My thoughts is that it would help any mental blocks I would have when the time comes to purchase as well as give me a greater perspective when I start analyzing properties. I haven't settled on any specific strategy at the moment as I am still trying to understand the market in the area and how it affects strategies. any comments, ideas or suggestions to get me pointed in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!