Buying Equity to get started

[James H Webb III]

I have been looking to get started in real estate for about a year now. I have a sound job and I've sold everything I have debt on except my house which I am refinancing so I can open a HELOC. I'm ready to pull the trigger on SOMETHING but I'm stuck in "analysis paralysis". With the money I make I will be able to afford a large enough down payment to where I can buy a house in my area and it be cash flowing immediately as a buy and hold strategy. I know "great investors" CREATE equity as opposed to BUYING it. The thing is I'm not a great investor, as of right now I'm not an investor at all and I have to change that. I'm already pre approved for a loan and can't take being without a rental property for much longer, but my fear of a poor decision has be stuck. Thoughts?