Newbie From Rocky Mount, Virginia (near Roanoke)

[Liz Craine]

Hello All!

I have always wanted to invest in real estate.  Back when I was married we had several rental properties I managed and we had great success with them. I have since divorced and it's been many years since I have done anything but work a nine to five job, and try to get my kids through college. 

The getting the kids through college part is what really made me think; I am not on track to leave my kids any kind of legacy.  I am totally playing it safe, working from paycheck to paycheck just to survive.  It is time to take a chance and go it alone!  I'll admit I am pretty nervous without the safety net of a second income, but I just need to get over that.  

So, I I have been listening to Pod-casts and reading as much as possible for a while now.  I was all ready to jump right into investment properties until I attended a Guru real estate seminar and listened to some pod-casts. Now I feel I am sorely undereducated and realize I don't even know how much I don't know! 

I was a Realtor for a very short time right before the market crash.  My license has since expired.  I was toying around with the idea of renewing it, because it would be so nice to be able to go check out properties without having to contact a Realtor.  But, one investor I talked to mentioned she doesn't have her license because it cuts down on liability.  Any thoughts on this?

I'm very interested in attending the local Roanoke REI meetings, but I am also attending the local community college at night, so I haven't been able to make it yet. I am one more semester away from my degree and I'll be free of school! The sad part about that is, I am getting a paralegal degree, but now I am not interested in using it at all, real estate investing will be my next full time job.

I hope this wasn't too long winded, and I look forward to talking to and learning from all of you.  

Liz Craine