I'm excited for you to get that first one under your belt and see how you like it!  

I knew this was certainly no get-rich-quick flip or even barely pay the bills flip from the beginning, but I was motivated to get my first flip under my belt...and more importantly to use it to attract a bigger fish who would bring money to the table for flips going forward. 

Looking for out of state deals due to local market condition in the west, has 5 small SFH units under belt in OH.What is the consensus for the best way to invest 250k in 2020 from risk reward standpoint?

I do have a friend whom we used to be collegues with here in Europe but then he moved back to the US and he is someone that I trust and has some property experience under his belt.

Initially my goal is maybe to get 5 properties under my belt and then reassess and make a new goal.

I feel like as a beginner, I will use traditional financing until I get one or two flips under my belt.

I get the urge for wine that doesn't come out of a box all the time myself.Usually my inner troll comes out when some dude in Palo Alto gets all turgid about passive investment opportunities in Rust Belt hood SFRs."

At 17 and with $290, I would start planning and doing a few things: I would stick with learning as much as I could here on BP for free, maybe joining some local RE groups and get to those meetings where I could mingle with them and get known, being 17 you have youth as both an advantage and as a DISADVANTAGE till people get to know and know you as a dependable dedicated man on paper and screen till you have successes under your belt you may be looked more as a liability as you are 17 so you must prove your worth more.

@George Blower thank you so much for the information very helpful

Are you living paycheck-to-paycheck with one rental under your belt?