I have been listening to the podcast for a few months now and watching the "Real Estate for Rookies" YouTube show and I've been learning and also reading different books on real-estate investing.

Here’s a more polished version of your message:Hello BiggerPockets community,A close friend has been encouraging me to get into real estate investing for years.

Are you a real estate professional?

Hey Justin, I agree with what others have said—you don’t need a license to become a real estate investor or entrepreneur.

Unless you have a Roth, you can easily pay much more in taxes by investing in real estate through an SDIRA.

Used enirely OPM to buy this one, and borrowed money from a family member who is in commercial real estate to do the renovation.

Quote from @Eric Gerakos: Michael, why would you invest in UNSECURED note funds when you can buy notes SECURED by real estate that are currently paying 10% for 2 or 3 year interest only terms?

You're supposed to have a license in every state if you are representing either a buyer or a seller in a real estate transaction, or acting as an intermediary in the sale of real estate.

However, here are a few strategies to explore:Local Real Estate Investor Networks – Join local REI groups, meetups, or Facebook groups where private lenders may be open to funding primary residences under the right terms.Seller Financing – If the seller is open to it, you could negotiate a seller-financed deal where they act as the lender.Community Banks & Credit Unions – Smaller local banks may offer portfolio loans with flexible terms.Wealthy Individuals / Family Offices – High-net-worth individuals sometimes fund private deals, especially if they see strong equity and repayment potential.IRA or Self-Directed Retirement Accounts – Some investors lend money from their self-directed IRAs for real estate transactions.Since you’re willing to pay higher interest for a short-term solution, a contract for deed (land contract) might also be an option, where the seller keeps the title until you pay it off or refinance.Would you like me to connect you with any potential private lenders?

Most "off market" properties are sent out to huge buyer lists of the most unsophisticated and inexperienced investors and those are the individuals you are beating out on term.Here are real examples of MLS properties I recently purchased:6370 Germantown Avenue: Four unit mix-use with one unit occupied.