What's your biggest challenge in the business and how did you overcome it?

It is unfortunately one of the biggest misconceptions amongst new investors and leads to unnecessary start up expenses.

My biggest suggestion would be to find some local meetups (https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...) and introduce yourself to the host. 

Purchase price: $265,500 Cash invested: $62,387 Sale price: $430,000 The biggest challenge on this one was the smell from the animals kept in this home.

I like the idea of adding value as long as you don't spend too much cash and/or plan to do a cash out refi at some point to keep your cash working for you and getting a good return on equity; the biggest advantage with this strategy is the low down payment with the lowest available interest rate.

Honestly, I think the biggest hurdle you are going to have to overcome is a lack of time. 

When you get clients these will be the biggest pieces in providing value. 

Taxes and insurance will be the biggest variables on the expense side. 

Yes absolutely to start off I am looking at 2-4 unit multifamily properties.The part where you mentioned about going out into the market and not just sitting behind a computer screen, that's one of the biggest things that has kept me from making any significant moves so far.The first thing I want to learn is how an investor analyses a property (not only using numbers, but qualitatively), and I think going out and looking at real deals and talking to investors is the way forward.Thanks a lot for your response.

What are the biggest hurdles with purchasing in a state that is much further away (Midwest etc) and is it smart for a first property?