(This is amateur ball...just with my friends).

The realtor called me an amateur and told me I shouldn't make offers if I'm not prepared to follow through with them. 

Investing is widely regarded as a risky pursuit by amateurs and those who are uneducated in the field.

Scotts book on Estimating ReHab Costs, excellent book, because I am a bit amateur when it comes to the contracting side.

John also taught courses on these topics, and self produced some amateur looking material.  

In commercial buyers trying to do deals they have no capacity for etc. we call "amateur hour".These courses teach investors to find new agents because they have nothing else to do to submit all these crazy offers and see what sticks.

So, as matter of policy, banks want personal guarantees so they can reach into your pocket as well, or else the industry is at risk by a bunch of amateur investors that put a property in an LLC and avoid all consequences.

My question is this - given the above circumstances - what would you recommend for an amateur investor (who's a good researcher)?

@Gerard Aliberti I’m somewhere between an amateur & a pro but I’d say the answer lies in the calendar.

Amateur investor here that will hopefully soon be buying my first MFR.