I'm a newbie with 35K to invest. What do you suggest?

[Anne Herron]

Hi all,

I've been reading Bigger Pockets for only a month now, along with listening to as many of the podcasts as possible. I have about 35K saved (toward what I thought would be a down payment someday) at this point, but I'm only able to add about 5-7K to that a year as my income currently stands. Here in LA, a modest home in the right neighborhood will cost my husband and I at least 750K, and I'd like to be able to put 20% down sometime in the next 5 years. I want to grow my 35K into a more substantial downpayment while educating myself on REI and preparing to make good decisions in an increasingly expensive city.

If you were me, what would you do with this money? How would you invest it and what opportunities would you be eyeballing? 

Thanks in advance for any time you'll take to educate me. I appreciate it.