They say you need to define your 'personal investment philosophy' before you get started.Generally if you want to do it yourself I would recommend researching markets near you, targeting one and buying a small house or duplex and learn by doing.Otherwise you can become an equity or debt partner with someone actively doing it and learn that way but start small because you will also learn some lessons doing that...

It will come down to your own personal philosophy, risk tolerance, and the deal itself (financing to an entity is nowhere near as favorable as to a person).

If you are renting these places for $450 per month, you should have a whole different philosophy than if you are getting $2,000 per month!

This is not in an expensive or crazy appreciating market (such as FL, YC, California), it's in the midwest, so appreciation is not really a huge metric I'm after.In many  of the podcasts and webinars, I've learned that Brandon's and others' philosophy is to aim for 10+% COC, and that does seem to make sense to me.

@Jose Ortega my philosophy is always be looking for GREAT deal.

Cue David Greene's exceptional book - Long Distance Real Estate Investing - which led me here and has helped me think through what my investing philosophy needs to be. 

You've likely missed the boat and can probably do better with the Cardone philosophy and investing the money you have and rent your primary home, for now.  

Will I have to subject myself to someone else's possibly differing philosophy, or control?

She clearly has her own philosophy on investing that works for her.  

., you basically just laid out my philosophy - but in a much clearer way :).