Few Questions... (Newbie Questions Inside Beware)

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Hi everyone, I'm new to the nitty gritty to the industry and I would really like to get into this. I have a few questions that I would like to know about. I know that some of them may have been recently posted but I'd rather get them out in my own words. Sorry if I sound ignorant in any way, but I am only 19 with 0 experience here.

I've begun to read books about real estate, articles, and I am also going to be getting a real estate certificate from my University in the next year or two and I would like to have somewhat of a jump on it when I start. I'm looking at two books right now on Amazon entitled, "Real Estate Investing For Dummies", and The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing (Paperback)
by Gary W. Eldred. Are these decent books to start out with?

Also flipping has been getting more and more important, and I've read recent threads on doing the work on my own or paying and I think that paying would be best for me since I'm in college, work full time in my off time, and would be doing this with the owner of the place where I work. We arent looking for $30000 profit turns but less with the experience oppurtunity. With the recent downfall of the real estate market is this something that is going to stay around or is it something that is going to die out in time and become pointless?

What is everyone's ideas or opinions on forclosures, I spoke with a good friend who sells real estate and he said where we are its next to impossible to even benefit from them, and its no where near worth the hastle of fixing them up and selling them.

Finally, is a brokers license really worth it if I attain a real estate certificate from my University? What benefits does the license incorporate into my abilities in this field?

Again sorry for ignorance in any way. And if I have posted this in the wrong section I'm sorry I'm sure mods can pop it over for me.

Thanks in advance.