It's a simple and understandable number when speaking to anyone even those who aren't investors and you can call it "vanity", but others might feel it motivating in that seeing their successes simply like that and it might help encourage them to press forward even when things are difficult.

None were accepted yet, so learned a ton and happy to walk away from a few deals that weren't going to give me the return I wanted, or had big issues (e.g. septic - I decided to stay away from septic if at all possible)*Taking the time to encourage a friend who knows nothing at all about REI to take his first steps.

@David O'Sullivan JrRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

To become a successful real estate investor, learn through books, find a mentor, start small, diversify, set clear goals, stay financially prudent, obtain a real estate license, encourage persistence, take breaks, and celebrate small wins.

@Alex NARecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Make sure you are only doing things that you 100% know how to do.If you are in the Houston area I would highly encourage you to get plugged in to the real estate investor groups that are in that city.  

I would greatly appreciate any advice and insights to better understand the local market and connect with real estate investors specialized in rental properties.I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions, exchanging ideas, and build valuable relationships with other members.

There are great benefits to the program but also meaningful drawbacks.

I encourage people to check it out.

It's very hard to play the game of real estate without it, and I'd encourage all new investors to work hard to maximize their income upside, and work hard to get into a stable position before obliterating your DTI on a capex nightmare.