If you are an existing renter in a rent controlled unit, you are happy for a few years as you soak up the below market rent benefit. 

Excited to soak up knowledge from pros.

@Garrick Wong - Congrats on making the decision to act on the education you've been receiving/soaking in. 

I'm soaking up a lot of information through books but I'm also starting to venture out of my comfort zone by joining a REIA near Baltimore and face-to-face networking with other investors.

Since last June I've been soaking up as much information from BP and other sources on RE.

WICs in master, his/her 36" vanities, soaking tub, seamless shower and toilet room.

In any case, I found the following after she moved out:- Smoke/animal smell throughout the unit (she was a smoker and smoking in the unit was strictly prohibited and dog was allowed per the lease)- Carpet with cigarette burns and soaking wet at the time of removal (no telling how long its been like this)- Rear window has a broken pane (still functional as it is a double pane, but needs to be replaced regardless)- Holes in drywall- Replaced bedroom doorknob with deadbolt (because her middle school son was stealing cigarettes lol)- Backyard full of metal/wood fragments and general rubbish including shoes, a knife, batteries, fishing reels etc. 

@Matthew Anderson - glad to hear- I have been listening to a lot of the pod casts to soak in as much information as possible.

This will make you a more well rounded investor as the years pass.I started out thinking I wanted to just flip a couple of houses per year, then once I had enough money saved I would buy multifamily deals (with my house flip profits)That was 10 years ago, and I've done plenty of house flipping, but I've also done wholesaling, new development, short term rentals, long term rentals, office, and medical.My point is - Keep soaking up all of the knowledge that you can here on BP.

Use that energy to soak up knowledge and meet people.