Tips for a recent grad looking to invest

[Aaron Stark]

Hi,

My name is Aaron. I'm looking to save up 20% on a house in the next year or so. That part will be easy. What will be difficult is that I have next to no hard experience in real estate. 

Does anyone have tips or suggestions to someone who is new to the market?

Does anyone have any failures they would be willing to share and what they learned from them?

Is it smarter to invest solo into a house or duplex, or to ask a JV I know to invest with me in a 5 room apartment complex?

Should I wait for the downturn of the economy before investing?

I have many more questions for someone willing to share some wisdom on the subject.