There's a starting point for everyone - high income, rehab skills, etc.

Then do some research on some high yielding skills that can help you earn more money, either on the side, or eventually as your main thing. 

Richmond, Virginia, offers various opportunities in the real estate market.As you venture into wholesaling, focus on building a strong network, honing your negotiation skills, and understanding the local market dynamics.

Partnering with groups with skill can often times lead to better results than one can achieve on their own when investing from a distance.

Some first time home buyer will overestimate their DIY skills and underestimate the scope of work and cost.While equity is a percentage (ideally 25%) rehab cost is a dollar amount that does not go down with lower priced properties.

It's easier to enter a real estate office and learn the terminology there then switch when you can show you have skills to offer.A mortgage lender is going to pay $11000 for every loan you start no matter if it's denied or they shop rates.

I feel with my Engineering and MBA background, this is something that really suits my skill-set and something I can sink my teeth into.

I am looking for an experienced partner/mentor skilled in small starter homes, since I want that to be my main focus to start with.

Hopefully after I've assigned a contract I'll have built enough of a relationship with the buyer that maybe they'll let me watch or observe what and how they do with the house after they buy it from me, maybe even act as a semi - quasi project manager so I could learn some skills to apply toward my own investing.

You also must consider your understanding of the intricacies of managing a property yourself and whether you have the skills to manage a manager.Do you know anything about property maintenance, are you at all experienced or handy with tools. do you understand the functions of the different buildings trades, do you know the costs associated with the trades.If you have not been hands on involved in managing your own property it is extremely difficult to manage a property manager.