@Ben LeybovichHere is a slightly different scenario for you  - a passel of hogs if you will.We stumbled across a 4-unit- with potential for a fifth unit - which is an REO where the property was taken partway through a renovation - one unit is rented (500/mth), the rest are vacant.We can acquire this building for <15K/unit and have it rent-ready for <22K/unit (generous contingency, which would allow the 5th unit to be brought on-line if not required).  

I found this site by stumbling into the podcasts while doing research.

You will hit many stumbling blocks during your journey.

jk ;)I sort of stumbled in to RE working for the past 6 years in bank regulation.

What was the biggest stumbling block for you to get started?

I stumbled upon this site by accident and haven't left it since.

Hope you got it worked out to your satisfaction. stumbled across this thread....it was like watching a wreck in slow motion. my guess is the contractor took him to the cleaners and never finished the dang roof.

I stumbled on this forum after I googled HOA Foreclosure sales.

A few days ago I got fed up with the pessimism around me and started searching for information on getting into real estate at a young age and stumbled upon http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/02/09/how-to-start-investing-real-estate-young/ which addressed all the issues that I was facing.

This is the stumbling block.