What Should a College Sophomore be Doing to Jump Start an REI Career?

[Ryan Reese]

I have been reading to various blogs and forums (btw Brandon Turner, you are the man) and they have left me wondering, what should I do ONCE I AM FINISHED WITH COLLEGE. I understand the importance of getting to my local REIA club and reading as much material as I can, but for a some who is at a stage where I am heading toward a four year degree in both Finance and Accounting what would any suggest I (or anyone who has recently read Rich Dad Poor Dad :)) consider doing so that I am fully equipped for REI once I leave college.

Some Background:

I currently live in New Orleans. With people still coming back, (parents that stay in the city they left Katrina for while their children finished high school... people like my mother) i can say that with the distressed home and steadily rising market I see positive growth potential.

I am flat broke... but I have been helping my grandparents and living with them during my college years... so i am not this lazy kid who wants to make it over night. (I am wondering if I should find a way to completely pay down student loan before start, it'll be hard but what isn't these days).

I would really like some incite on the qualification for hard money loans as well as FHA 203k loans. How much money should I be making now.

I really would love to flip homes, because real estate and car are two things I find the most interesting. I'm not just some 19 year old kid who think he can get rich quick. I see the tremendous amount of work many of you investors put in, as well as your willingness to give REI a good name.

So, I really would like someone who could weigh in on the situation I'm in, as well as any insight on investor who were as young as I am (19... but almost 20 :)) and how they combated the stereotype of being to young to make it happen... and we all know that's not the case!

Thank you for any information you can share... and to any New Orleans investors: im ready to learn :)