@Jake Abbatacola Welcome! Read "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and "Millionaire Real Estate Investor". Very good books for staying motivated and educated. Save, save, save. If you have a private money lender willing to lend you the money for say 3 to 5 years that wouldn't be a bad route to take as long as you can make the payments and satisfy the note within the terms.
If you're not buying you need to be learning about your markets you want to invest in and the processes you'll need to implement when you're ready. If you're looking to buy rental properties, then you'll need to start educating yourself or gaining experience in the following areas:
-landlording/property management (lots of learning here)
-Financing options (FHA,Conventional, Private Money, Hard Money, Cash-out Refi options etc.)
-Networking (MLOs, PM Lenders, mentors, Real Estate Agents, CPA, Attorneys,etc.)
-Finding and negotiating deals
Lastly, I would say manage your lifestyle and be mindful of what they call "Lifestyle Creep". Monitor your income and mitigate expenses. I took an extreme approach to lifestyle management and being a minimalist, but it pays off when you realize how much money you're saving.
Good luck and I wish you the best on your journey!