Study your state landlord tenant regulations and learn how to properly operate your business.Most regulations allow a landlord to serve a tenant on the second of the month when they are late paying.

So, don't worry about being a buyer for now - just study.

Over the course of these past months I've studied daily in preparation of getting started in real estate by the end of the year and i believe now is the time to start.

For the past six months, i've been studying and really immersing myself with real estate investing.

I work a full-time job but would like to spend the next 5-10 years studying hard and learning more to put myself in a position where I can invest wisely (and be diversified, of course) in real estate.  

I am willing to work and study hard to get that first deal.

For purposes of discussion here, assume the HOA is well run, the annual operating budget is sound and the account balances for reserves are within the guidelines set forth in the most recent reserve study.  

Lastly, how did you all study for the exam?

@Andrew ElmasriBelow market rents - get the rent roll from the broker/seller and compare it to rentometer.com and your study of the market rent for that property and locationOvergrown or not maintained landscaping - easy to spotDeferred maintenance on the exterior facade - easy to spotNo online presence or marketing (word of mouth or signage only) - google search for the property...see if vacant (or not vacant) units are marketed (usually on hotpads, trulia, zillow, web site, and many other sites where landlords market.  

I've been studying all of this for about a month now and I have some very basic knowledge, and I'm looking foreword to more.