What to do with $15,000?

[Hans Baldau]

Hello everyone,

Potential first time investor here. Quick run down, I am 25, I have $15,000 saved up (not counting rainy day fund), I have $5,000 in student loans that I do not have to pay for 2.5yrs (due to my job paying the rest). That is all the debt I have besides a car payment that is below average. I live in Las Vegas, NV currently but I am fine with investing out of state. I do not really want to invest here due to the entertainment industry being hit so hard, high unemployment, etc. Plus, the numbers don't work as well here as other places.

I really want to get started on my REI journey. I am reaching out to learn from everyone who has been in this position before and asking for their advice on what they did, what they would do looking back, or anything about REI in general.

I appreciate you all.