New REI that's trying to figure out where to start here.

[Zachary Resendez]

I'm exceedingly excited to join this community and learn all I can. Unfortunately, I find myself already a bit overwhelmed. My initial goal is to learn what I can in order to set the ground work for making my first investment in the next 90 days. Looking around the site and education tabs doesn't seem to have a very clear cut path of where to begin. I find myself seeing advice like, "let my Realtors and property managers know what I’m looking for," which is great advice if I had realtors and property managers. It seems like I've skipped a step somewhere or missed a link? Would greatly appreciate any advice or recommendations on the order of things for one trying to pursue multi-family rental properties in order to generate cash flow. 

Thank you for your time.

[Alex Breshears]

Hi Zachary! Welcome to BP. And your feeling is not uncommon. It is very very easy to end up in information overload. First, I am going to tell you there are TONS of ways to invest in real estate, and buying properties is just one very very tiny piece. For example, you could get involved in note buying and selling. You could broker for hard money lenders, you could develop connections with capital partners and set up syndications to buy large properties such as multifamily and office space. You could open a dinosaur themed hotel (life goal lol).  But you are seeing just the tip of the iceberg with talking to realtors and looking at homes and small multifamily.  My suggestion is going to be to sit down and think. Don't look at social media, put your phone away. Get a piece of paper and a pen (yes those still exist! lol).  Write at the top "Why do I want to invest in real estate?" And then write down a reason.  Now ask WHY is that reason important to you.  Keep doing that until you realize what you are truly after.  As an example, "Why do I want to invest in real estate?".  I want to have $10,000 in passive income.  "Why do I want 10,000 in passive income?", because I want to leave my job.  "Why do you want to leave your job?"  Because I don't like the work I do, I don't find it fulfilling and my boss drives me crazy. "Why do you want something in your life you find fulfilling" .  I want to be happy.  Will $10,000 a month make you happy?  - No- ok. What makes you happy? Being able to do what I want when I want will make me happy. AND THERE IT IS, the root cause. You keep asking yourself why until you come to a root reason. The reason isn't $10k a month. The reason is you want time freedom, or geographical freedom.  NOW you can look at the variety of ways of investing and decide which ones get you closer to that goal.  Being a full time fix and flipper is going to be very difficult on you if you want time freedom or geographical freedom for example.  Next, I would then take out another piece of paper and write down what your positive attributes are and what skills you have and enjoy doing. For example, are you more introverted and really great with analysis and numbers? Or are you extroverted, love to connect with people and discuss hypothetical situations at a high level?  Now you can narrow down the choices even more! After this exercise you should be left with just a few options, and if you are still unclear start reaching out to people who do those options. Don't ask them the mechanics of it (you can find that on YouTube), ask them what their lifestyles are like, ask them what they wished they knew earlier, ask them if they would do it all over again, ask them if they would keep doing it if they didn't need the money. Whoever has the answers that resonate with you, THAT is the style of investing you should move towards.  Good luck!