Perplexed! Where do I start?

[Brian V.]

Hi everyone. I'm new to bigger pockets. I live in Victorville, California. I've decided 2017 is my year to actually do something.

I have been studying real estate on and off for 20 years. I have bought several books and courses, attended expensive seminars and boot camps run by "gurus." and even paid thousands on Mentoring. I'm ashamed that in the thousands I've spent, and massive action I've taken that I have been mostly unsuccessful. 

One time I found a motivated seller and bought the first house I lived in and attained $30K worth of equity on the purchase. That is it.  Other times I had deals under contract for rental properties, but those deals fell through. I'm was very frustrated, so I took a few years off.

I keep coming back to real estate. I keep wanting to make something happen, but I don't know where to start. I've listened to many podcasts on the site, read the forums, watched webinars, and read some books. Additionally I read a lot of motivational stuff like Toni Robins.

I used to work in IT, but got downsized, so for the last 14 years I've been "enjoying" a very modest retirement. My credit is good, and I own my house. I have just $25,000 in the bank as emergency money, and I make just $2400 a month. 

How do I get started. I have unlimited amounts of time to leverage because I don't work, but I am spending many hours a day reading, watching, and listening, and hoping it will all open up to me.

I don't even know what techniques I want to focus on. Everything seems so risky, and I don't want something like vacancies or repairs for example to bankrupt me. Other techniques like Sub2 seem like a fast way to get into trouble if you can't get someone in there to make the payment...either that or something bad happens and you get sued.

Does anyone have any ideas in my situation how I can get started, what method I should learn and use? I have the simple goal of acquiring just one property in 2017.