What is the best related Day Job?

[Gary Honda]

Hi all! A bit about me. I’m currently in sales and have 2 years of experience. I have a wife and a 1 year old to provide for. My wife is going to school and a stay at home mom. I’m currently supporting our lifestyle and my wife’s schooling. (No student loans). 

I’m VERY interested in real estate and want to start investing but have a low tolerance for risk because I have people depending on me. The type of investments I’m interested in is rental properties to replace my day job eventually. My goal is to save for a down payment on a rental property and have the funds ready to go in 1-2 years. In that time I’m also working on building my credit score. (I grew up in a household that didn’t believe in credit cards so I didn’t get my first card until a year ago.)

I am thinking about leaving sales and starting a new career that’s more related to real estate. I’m reading everything I can in my free time but would love if my work time was spent learning about this space as well. I’ve considered a few job possibilities and would love to here your recommendations.

- real estate agent (not too excited about this one because of the high risk)
- Working for a builder
- Working for a property manager
- Working for a Lender or a bank
- Working in the auction/foreclosures market? (I’m honestly not sure if there is a job like this. Maybe at the courthouse or for a bank? If anyone knows what title I’m looking for id appreciate it.)
- working for a broker

In summary I need a job that will at least support my family and would like to to be real estate related. Do I stay where I’m at and play it safe or take a swing a changing my career? If so what careers “background” do you wish you’d had before you started investing?