For a first property, buying in your name with solid landlord insurance is the good starting point.

this was solid advice..reaching out to my zoning board. 

We do still need a solid tracking app (Looking forward to trying Flipper Force) but we decided to trim down our operation to only two crews, each with assigned overall project managers who will track individual costs and productivity.

The prices here are affordable, which means your $50K can go a lot further than it would in places like California, and you can still get solid cash flow from rental properties.

Fast forward 20 years when you are 60 and you have a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio that should be generating a solid amount of passive income. 

A lender who understands investors, an agent to find solid deals, a contractor you trust to handle rehabs efficiently, and a property manager to stabilize properties quickly.For financing, look into hard money loans - quick closes, interst ony payments, short terms, etc.

@Rachel Seymour-NewtonIf the smaller property is a strong deal with solid cash flow and tenant demand, it could make sense to buy now and start gaining experience.

Investing in real estate, particularly through avenues like foreclosures and tax sales, indeed requires a solid understanding of multiple aspects, including legal considerations.

That approach might not serve the seller well, especially since the goal is to genuinely help them by offering a reliable quick solution.My current thought is to focus on networking and building a solid and extensive buyers list and understanding their ideal investment criteria upfront.

You have 2 solid options!