Most try it for a few months, waste a bunch of people's time but don't actually do any deals then go on to something else.

I am putting it up on Facebook, Craigslist, etc. but is there anything else a newbie can utilize that you have found success with?

.:  For example any water leak, of the contractor charges me $250, out of that $60 tenant pays.As everyone else has mentioned, charging a fee is stupid. 

In the end, the weekend after the fed announced the first interest rate drop, we had an open house that had more traffic than our opening weekend 3 months earlier. we received a full-price offer for the house and closed in early November. obviously I have no way of knowing if the interest rate drop was a trigger, but nothing else changed in the market at that time. just wanted to share in case others are curious. appreciate all the thought partnership!

The stress of managing my father’s estate, dealing with attorneys, and everything else has been overwhelming.

@Matt Huber I think you know your answer already Direct real estate ownership should compensate you appropriately why else be in the alternative space.  

Your "right" time could be the wrong time for someone else. 

Real estate, by default, is passive and the primary way to avoid the passive loss rules is to qualify as a real estate professional.Full-time employees and non-real estate business owners cannot qualify as a real estate professional (aka REPS status) because one of the tests is to spend more time in real estate than anything else (and it’s unlikely that you can convince the IRS or Tax Court that you spent more time in RE than your day job).

Zillow is a mess.

@Bruce Woodruff, I want your extras added to this list first please.Anyone else have some good ones to add so we can help those who are in the middle of their first reno from losing more money?