Turnkey, duplexes, SFRs and triplexes can all be good ways to start but it depends on your situation and your investment philosophy.

Well said Leland, I like your philosophy.

We have focused on a buy and hold philosophy around college campuses.  

@Nikolas Buchholtz I have to agree with the hold philosophy. 

It seems you can find those numbers in, for lack of a better term, "less desirable" areas so I think both work, it's just more a matter of your investment philosophy and where you are comfortable investing. 

As to your zip code question, our philosophy at Panzera Realty is that we encourage our investors to buy in school zone zip codes for tenant longevity and property appreciation issues, among other reasons (we want our investors to stay away from C & D properties).

@Edward Synicky, I subscribe to your philosophy.

You can’t fight this recession with the same philosophy as the GFC.  

I absolutely love their philosophy and their podcast is excellent!!

However, a common theme that keeps popping up in the literature, interviews, and general knowledge that many real estate investors and successful business people seem to share is a desire to share their knowledge.Now, I can't speak for @JohnFedro or anyone offering courses/ lessons/ coaching (and I invite them to respond), but I imagine the desire to teach can be just as satisfying (if not more so) than making more money/ deals when you've accomplished your initial goals of becoming financially "sucessful".Additionally, even from a purely financially self-seeking standpoint, offing coaching, especially when it involves partnerships, has incredible benefits.Consider Grant Cardone's 10x philosophy.