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? 

[Theresa Harris]

Honestly the best day job is one what pays well.  Your income will determine how much you can borrow and how much you can save.

Unless you are doing something like flips (high risk, and potentially high reward-note potentially as it can go horribly wrong), you aren't going to accumulate a lot of wealth quickly with real estate.  Most people with long term rentals don't make enough to quit their day job (perhaps after the house is paid off).  Short term rentals make more money, but are more work.