Quote from @Elimar Rios Guzman: Hello BiggerPockets Community,My name is Elimar Guzman, and I'm excited to be a part of this thriving network of real estate enthusiasts and professionals! 

Next is to start building a strong network of local contractors, property managers, agents, lenders, and attorneys—they’re key to keeping things moving smoothly.

BP is a great place to learn and connect with fellow investors.If you’re looking to invest in your backyard, it helps to network with as many locals in the industry as you can.

Quote from @Michael Smythe: @Steve K.Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Find off-market deals, run conservative numbers, stick to one market first, network with local REI groups, and stay patient.

Whenever I speak to a group of students interested in real estate, I always stress the importance of networking and simply asking people to coffee.

Start with locations I'm most familiar with - Spend some time on Youtube learning about the different areas, and seeing which ones I'd be comfortable living in- When narrowed down, rent an Airbnb and try to spend a week in each place- From there, start talking to some property managers and networking in the area to find opportunitiesI grew up around the metro Detroit area, so that would be a good starting point for the research, expanding out to nearby spots in the midwest like Ohio.

A balanced approach—leaving some 401(k) funds for diversification while allocating after-tax dollars to real estate—can optimize tax efficiency and meet retirement goals.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

This will lower interest costs and free up future cash flow for reinvestment or reserves.Tax Planning: Work with a CPA to mitigate tax impacts from principal-heavy payments and potential gains.

Full disclosure - a lot of it comes down to being willing to go out and network at different events.