Stock pile as much cash as you can and always save at least 3-6 months in expenses so you never have to use those credit cards again.  

Most people fail to recognize that the precursor to investing in real estate is working hard - learning skills; gathering knowledge of markets; living frugally and stockpiling cash for investments; ETC.

house hacking is a great way to start...You keep a close eye on your tenant, you live mortgage free, someone else subsidizes your equity position, and you get a second rental when you decide to move on to a new house.Also you in theory get to stock pile your cash you would have paid in rent/mortgage.

Bear in mind, I'm looking to invest, but not lose my shirt along the way, stockpiling cash and opportunistically hopefully picking up deals when the next downturn comes around.Crowdfund your next deal - There's a ton of websites out there such as RealtyMogul and Fundrise.

Some unique draw that makes them distinguish your house from the rest of the stockpile that they're looking at.

If the tenants are not paid up by the 8th, I begin eviction proceedings - with all associated costs billed back to the tenant.If you would rather "ride the bull" and leave things as they are, I would make sure you stockpile your cash reserves now while the sun is shining so you can pay your debt service, etc. when/if things go south with them, as you will have zero income on a SFR with a non-paying tenant, but still all of the expenses.

I currently have several cards that combine to offer me roughly $3000 worth of free travel every single year that I can either use immediately, or stockpile it for my big world tour once I retire.  

Rent rooms out, stockpile cash, and in a few months when your year of living there is up, move on to another and repeat.

Hi Cory,You have options, you could either use the equity from your home, wholesale to build a cash reserve or use a hard money lender.Using your equity: Allows you to buy, say a property from an auction, rehab, rent and refin.Wholesaling: Allows you to build up cash flow where you can ultimately purchase the house with the cash you stock piled and follow the same BRRR process.Hard Money Lenders: Allow you to finance your deal and rehab cost and flip the property. 

Currently, I reside in Baltimore, MD and will start flipping homes so I can start stock piling cash and fund my rentals.