In addition to those I would also suggest making a commitment to going to local meet ups and networking events in your area.

Many would suggest against RE investing using retirement money but if you go into low risk opportunities it can be a powerful diversification method.

Quote from @David Cherkowsky: @Russell Brazil and @Michael BaumThank you both for the suggestions.

From there, I would like to consider a 1031 exchange in the future to acquire more units.My current property management company suggested that they could handle a mid sized apartment building but I would absolutely not consider them for it as I believe they have overextended themselves and communication is lacking.

My suggestion would be to buy a place to be a mid term rental and experiment with short term during the vacancy gaps. 

But it's YOUR money, and Real Estate, to put it mildly, is a contact sport).Month 5: Deals & Network (15-18 hours/week)Submit first offersAttend 2-3 REI events monthlyBuild social media presenceKey Goal: First offer acceptedMonth 6: Scale & Automate (15-20 hours/week)Delegate initial tasksEstablish morning/evening routinesCreate follow-up systemsKey Goal: Sustainable weekly schedule🚫 Common Pitfalls to Avoid:Overcommitting earlyNeglecting W2 responsibilitiesSkipping system creationTaking on too many mentor calls✅ Success Markers:Consistent daily actionsGrowing networkClear systemsNo work conflictsSteady deal flowMaintained energy levels👉 Action Steps This Week:Audit your current scheduleBlock 2 hours dailyChoose your power hour (morning/evening)Set 30-day milestoneGeneral Comment:  obviously not everyone will follow these suggestions.  

If you rent in a high-crime area, I wouldn't suggest it.

I’d really appreciate any insights or suggestions!

That is me reading between the lines, and I would suggest partnering with someone who has the money.

Just know that it is a "no days off" kind of business and very mechanical.I would suggest documenting your process via video so that eventually you can bring people on to replace the different hats you will be wearing.Keep in mind of these 5 components of any wholesale business.lead generation, deal sourcing, underwriting, marketing, transaction coordination.