Newbie Questions Help

[Linda R Harley]

So admittedly I'm a newbie at this, and I'm not afraid to say it but I'm not afraid to learn and roll up my sleeves.  I have a few quick questions.

1.  What is your favorite book/blog/vlog/podcast that describes the math involved with Real Estate? 

2.  How did you come up with your criteria for the first house you purchased?  This still seems magical to me, as no one has been able to give a clear precise method of making these decisions. I'm an engineer, and so I'm hoping that the answer to question 1, will help with question 2. I'm methodical and need reasons. I know its a personal decision, but I need to know what to avoid and how the math works.

3. What was your biggest fear when you first started, and how did you overcome it?

Cheers

Linda