Make this the Year- you buy your first investment property

[Cal C.]

The majority of wannabe real estate investors will remain that way, year after year.   Even though they see the (many) advantages of RE investing they are either too broke, too frightened or for some other reason they don't ever actually buy that first property.   I'm not one of those people who think "Just Do It" when it comes to RE investing, but I certainly think a well thought out plan using the research provided on Bigger Pockets and in some key RE books, millionaire Real estate investor, Hold, the book on flipping houses-by @J Scott, the book on Rental Property Investing by @Brandon Turner to name a few will greatly increase your chances of RE investing success.  

With the vast variety of RE investing choices out there, one of them is probably going to be right up your alley.  

If you don't have much money- House hack via an FHA loan.

If you don't have a big down payment for a second property-look for seller financing. 

If you don't have a good credit score-Work hard on improving it. Make a budget and stick to it. Take a second job and pay down some of those out of control bills.

If you don't like to deal with tenants- Save up enough to flip a house.  Find ways to fund it. If you do a lot of the rehab yourself it may take  you more time but it will be cheaper.

If you don't have the time-look at picking up a house with a tenant already in it.  There are tired landlords out there.  Or ones who never found Bigger Pockets.

If you want hands off investing-Look for a partner.  Be very selective if you go this route though. 

If you want to acquire multiple units at once-look to buy a small apartment building but be very cognizant of the cap rates and what type of neighborhood/property it is.   

Bottomline- there are a bunch of ways to get started in RE investing and 2016 is a good time to get started, especially with the low interest rates available.  Those low rates certainly make it easier to cash flow properties.