@Nana K.
Welcome to BP! You have certainly come to the right place. My advice to you is this:
Start small.
You are at a good starting point. You have a clear idea of where you stand. However, you are short on cash reserves. Save your money. Get familiar with your area (I mean really familiar... Drive around and look at neighborhoods, even those outside of your comfort zone. If buy and hold is your goal, the best places to invest may not be the areas that you are considering). The best deals are not on the MLS. Network within the site and your local community to find people who can find you deals. This may be an experienced agent who is well-connected, a wholesaler, an investor or a combination of the above.
Read this:
http://beta.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing
Finally, know where you are going. What is your ultimate goal? What level of income will make you feel safe and secure? Set a number. A clear, precise goal. Then set-up actionable steps to reach whatever goal you set for yourself.
Start small, grow with confidence and know that you will make mistakes. We all do. Success in real estate depends on your ability to withstand set-backs, push-downs and unexpected challenges. Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, learn and keep going... And I guarantee you that you will be successful.