Beginner.. Please help!

[Steven E.]

A little introductions are in order, my name is Steven, and I am a college student working to pay my way through (full time student and part time job). My main passion has been to make my money work for me. I love investing! It all started with value investing when I read, "The Intelligent Investor," but now I have become drawn into real estate. The biggest man in my town (I live in Tn) worked his way up in commercial property. I am drawn to his hard work and success. He began to teach me a little; however, he seems too busy to want to mentor me on a frequent basis. I would love to start a little discussion going on the best way to start into real estate. I have been meeting with a few people that flip houses, which seems to be one start into active income. I have also met people who rent homes, however, they tend to either love it because they were successful or they lost money and think real estate is horrible. Please leave a quick note on how some of you started or what you would have done knowing what you all know now. Thank you so much!

[Pat L.]

As a college student I started by buying a house with an owner hold that was close to being demolished.
I then rented all the rooms out to fellow students.
We all worked at replacing the roof, plumbing, & the bottom course of limestone block as the walls were all limestone.
Salt damp was a problem in the area & houses such as this we're collapsing on the first course of wall support. We were all studying engineering & during classes with a professor he told us about a black waterproof hydraulic cement impervious to salt damp that we could use to supplement the first course of the wall. We then covered the outside with a piece of slate to compliment the facade.
After that we looked for more homes the same but always rented the rooms out to pay the bills & the wages in beer.
From that day on I always had RE investments of varying types, with many partners but always looked for unusual opportunities. I retired late in life @ 49 but still live & breathe the RE business.
I am currently mentoring a couple of young kids & having a blast.
Good luck