Feeling overwhelmed and discouraged

[Kenneth D.]

I'm 43 and wanted to invest in real estate. I am trying to learn but for whatever reason it feels over my head. What resources exist for absolute beginners? I tried going to a local meetup and felt really out of place. Speakers immediately started using acronyms I had no idea what was going on. Also financially I don't know if this will make sense. Even assuming best case scenario the soonest I can save 25% down is another 2 years away. I spoke with a property management company and she was helpful but I just don't think I can do this.

[Scott Trench]

@Kenneth D. - BiggerPockets is built for you. This is the challenge. You are right on track, you are doing it right, and everyone feels this way when starting out. We have these forums, the podcasts, books, and more. Please email me at [email protected] and I will send you a free copy of one of the books to get you started. 

Aside from that, it is an immersion. Many (most? All?) of the investors here go through an immersion period of literally 100+ hours, including books, forum lurking/posting, blog reading, YouTube video watching, networking with agents and other investors, etc. 

That's before they feel COMFORTABLE with even taking the next steps towards buying that first property. 

And yes, being two years away from that first or next down payment is totally normal. Many investors, certainly myself, went through a 12-15-24 month "grind" to accumulate the cash to invest in real estate. A grind that repeats between each of the early deals. It can be frustrating watching hotshot social media stars seemingly getting to the endgame overnight, but know that for every smiling photo on the beach are underlying risks/advantages/secrets that may not be exposed on the surface. Some of those who got rich quickest will give it all right back. But, if you approach it as a grind, with a long-term outlook, you can look up in 7-10 years with a solid pile of equity and a surprisingly large and/or reliable stream of income.

You are doing it right. Sit back, make REI self-education a hobby, on the side, for free or the cost of a few books, and when you are well-capitalized, speak the language of REI fluently, and have a clear and compelling thesis for the type of deal that will meet your goals, set yourself up to act with a combination of boldness and conservatism that feels right for you.