Am I making excuses/is it time for me to just "DO"? Help!

[Noel Hailey]

I'm new to real estate investing but eager and excited about everything I've learned. Eventually I'd like to have a portfolio well seasoned with different investment strategies. I think big but have to remind myself to start small. There's several strategies I could use to get started but I'm thinking I'd like to start with house hacking. The details I'm struggling with are....

- FHA loan doesn't sound like it's an option for me (unless there's something I don't know.) I moved to Idaho a year ago to care for my grandpa during covid/his treatments for kidney cancer. I've been out of work/on unemployment since. Before that, I worked retail/service industry for years. I'd like to take advantage of my curtain situation to get started in real estate investing but as far as I know, a bank won't be comfortable loaning to me considering my financial/work situation. I know there's several other strategies for funding a deal (I've read Brandon Turners "Investing in Real Estate with with no (and low) money down) so I could use a partnership, find a hard/private money lender, try seller financing, etc., but do you think using one of these alternative strategies and structuring the contract similar to how an FHA loan would be structured is possible/likely? Furthermore, I'd like to use the BRRRR method at some point down the line and am not sure what/how that will work if I'm not the one who's able to refinance through a bank? Are there ways to work with a bank if I don't have a W-2 job or proof of 'reoccurring income' that a bank is comfortable with? I know there must be ways around this because its tons of peoples jobs already, so how do I have my "job/career/source of income" (however you'd like to refer to it) be Real Estate Investing but still leverage all these great strategies I read/hear about that involve working with a bank at some point or another in the investment venture? I plan to find a multi family property that has the right numbers to make it work and move into one of the units and rent the other unit/s out. If this were my situation and I financed the deal creatively to obtain the property (since I'm currently only receiving unemployment) but am actively trying to wholesale properties as my new source of income (this will also benefit me down the line by filtering deals to keep for myself), will a bank accept wholesaling as a solid enough/reoccurring income to work with me so I'm able to go to them when I'm ready? Or do I need to get some sort of W-2 type job in order to make this all work? At least to start? I don't want me being on unemployment to be an excuse for me not to get started. But do I need a 'real' job of sorts? My biggest struggle with that is the time it'd take away from me being out searching for off-market deals or investing in my education. (also the risks with covid/caring for my grandfather.) Any insight anyone can provide or help/suggestions, examples.., anything really! I've spent the last month reading books and listening to podcasts and doing my research but this post is the 1st time I'm actually reaching out for any sort of advice/help. I can be a bit shy but more so seem to think I can "figure it out on my own" when I should've come here with my questions and concerns a looonnggg time ago. I don't have anyone to discuss real estate investing, with. I'm new to Idaho, all my friends in Seattle aren't interested in any of this so I'm pretty secluded with my own learnings and grandpa lol. I'm ready to start taking action. I plan to find an agent and an attorney this week with experience in real estate investing to help me with some of my questions, as well. I will appreciate ANY response or connection I can get!!! Eager to learn and get started. I think I may be the one holding myself back, but I'd be nice to hear from someone with experience that either A) yes I'm holding myself back and just need to take action or B) I'm on the right path..? My situation is specific and I don't want to give too many details on here but I do hope this has made sense and someone is able to understand where I'm struggling/where my fear is coming from. If you've read this far..THANK YOU!

-Noel