How to get started with limited capital

[Daniel Rosado]

Hello,

I am completely new to real estate investing. I have been trying to get started but I'm not sure what the best strategy is given I have limited funds for my first deal. I have posted regarding this topic before and the general consensus was that I should just start saving more aggressively and then eventually buy a multi-family property as my first deal. I have been working towards that but it just seems like a very slow process given my expenses and I'm getting married this year. I'm determined to find a way to get started now but I'm unsure how.

I'm in the LA area so the market is very competitive. Most properties, even those that require intense renovations, are still out of my price range. I heard on a recent BiggerPockets podcast that some investors use private lenders rather than going through a traditional bank. Can anyone provide some more information on this? Is going through a private lender something I should look into?

I have thought about wholesaling but it seems like it would be tough to stay persistent with since I have a full time job.

I have the credit to get approved for a loan but seemingly not enough cash for a down payment or to fund any rehab projects.

I appreciate the help.

Thanks,

Daniel