I would also read up some on landlording (I have a blog post on "classics of landlord lit").... 

Jenifer, on buy and hold, I have some classics of landlord lit (in a blog post by the same title); and on Nov. 15th Chad Carson had a nice BP Blog post on 7 absolutely must reads for beginning investors. 

@Saul L. It

@Andrew L. it depends what area you want/need to live in.The best purchase you can go with is a multifamily in DC.

I have a blog post (third one down on my profile) on some older classics books about landlording (classics of lanldord lit). 

Her stare went away to a receptive look and when I mentioned that kids needed safe and affordable housing and that a playground was part of the proposal, she lit up and asked me inside.

But seeing how some of you have worked around the obstacles indicates thst i jeed to manage the time i do have a lit better.

I know that's small potatoes for some of you, but it's a pretty big deal for me and it has really lit a passion that I could see growing for the rest of my life.  

@Colin L. It

Jathiyah L. It's