Be like Warren Buffet look for deals where no one else is looking.Have the seller pull a 3 bureau credit report on the payor and see if he/she has the capability to pay the second.

But don't forget to take massive action along the way.

I have been trying to learn as much as I can, reading works of Trump, Buffet, and Graham among others.

I'm from the Baltimore area, and I currently see a massive opportunity due to the Baltimore Riots. 

Massive trees near the house. 

Some negative effects include a stronger dollar further damaging already crippled emerging market economies, increasing the deficit due to higher interest on our massive debt, and damaging a fairly fragile housing recovery (we are still building far below what we did in 2007).  

Absorb as much as you can to build a good foundation and take massive action. 

Having worked so long in massive organizations where career progression has more to do with superiority than it has to do with job performance, I've noticed my own work ethic slowly slipping away.  

 - For roughly the same reason mentioned above, we could see a massive exodus of cash away from REITs and other RE investment vehicles, just was we've seen the massive influx over the last few years.  

But they earn it.. they took the massive action to run the thing etc..Good luck...