Intro & Questions

[Akialah Ansar]

Hello everyone! This is my first forum post. I have a few questions. So far, I've just been listening to podcasts & videos and I'm going to begin reading books on real estate this week. I also want to connect with investors in my area (Bay Area, CA). Any advice on how to do this? My plan is to either buy a home for myself to stay in while I fix it up, then flip it. Or buy a duplex & rent out one while I live in the other. (Well, at least in a perfect world!) Do I need a real estate license to do this? Or at what point is it needed? And what's the best way to prepare for one? I'm sorry if this information should be common knowledge but I appreciate any answers!