I have the dream truck I want and don't have the desire to spend on a vehicle.  

Also in knowing what areas of town to be interested in making deals (school district, crime rates, accessibility to venues etc.).My "tips" would be to gain the experience by doing :) I still remember my first day in construction and being nervous and feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of grabbing tools and working on someone else's dream of a new home.

I couldn't dream of doing that here in LA/OC.

On another side, you may find it worth it to let in a dog to ensure you get that golden tenant that every landlord dreams of (you know the ones that pay on time, are easy to work with and take care of the property).

Our goal is to one day achieve our level of financial freedom to be able to give our family the life that we are dreaming of. 

My real estate agent gave advice on buying a Quadplex to get our dreams going in the right direction.

I'm a complete newbie to the real estate game, who dreams of starting my own residential real estate empire, buying and holding homes across the country in consistent markets to generate passive income in order to be my own boss. 

Don't be one of the clones, follow your dream and become your own broker when you have the resources. 

Wishing all speed to you with your goals and dreams my friend.

My dream is to create a real estate company serving the housing needs of middle income population, but like everything in life, it is best to start with baby steps.I like the NYC metropolitan area because of its diversity, potential for growth and the fact that it behaves somewhat independently of the national economic trends.