I was in your exact same position a few years ago. I desperately wanted to invest but just couldn't due to the fact that I was still in school. I had read numerous books, read many forums and articles online, and watched countless videos. Real estate is one of those things you can study for years until you actually pull the trigger and acquire your first property. Your learning doesn't really stick (at least it didn't for me) until you actually do it. Coming from someone who was in your shoes, I know how eager you are to get started, but I recommend waiting it out and starting once you're all done with school. Here are some focus points for you to work on now that will put you in a more favorable position to invest once you graduate.
1. Work on boosting your credit score - Use a site like Kredit Karma or Nerdwallet to see how you can improve your score - A better score will most likely yield a lower interest rate
2. Focus on saving up a nice chunk of change (the expenses tend to add up quicker than expected when buying your first property)
3. As mentioned by other members, hone in on your investing style (Ex: area, price, condition, type)
4. Start building your team. I focused on this while I was in school so once I graduated, I had all the pieces in place and was ready to invest. I had a realtor, mortgage broker, property manager, and general contractor.
5. Focus on improving your weaknesses. You don't know what you don't know until you actually start investing, but there are general topics that you can improve upon. For example, if you don't know much about taxes when it comes to investing, focus your learning there.
6. Find a mentor who is currently investing and help them. I know this is easier said than done, but it's well worth the search. I have a college friend who still has 2 years left in school and wants to begin investing now just like you. He has asked that share my experiences with him as I begin to invest so that he will know what it's like once he begins.
Use this time in school to prep yourself as much as possible before you begin your investing career. I know you're eager to start now but there is much responsibility that comes with buying your first property (ex: time, stress, money). It is better to start earlier, but 2 years won't make a huge difference. And if you're able to buy a property right after graduating, you will be way ahead of the curve.
