Get a couple properties under your belt, make sure the cash flow is there.

@Joseph Braunthis is not unique to Baltimore, i think this is a feature of many cities, including most rust belt cities. 

The guy I’m working with I’m nearly positive has some investments under his belt as well as one of the top agents in the state and I figured he was the main source for that but just double checking. 

Yes, it is good to get a deal or two under your belt.

I am sure there are lots of different reasons for it. well they were replaced by those crossing the border 750k out of 42 mil probably not that big of an impact.. traffic is still really heavy I was just there last weekend in the SF bay area no signs of the state looking like some of the dead cities one finds in the rust belt or deep south.

Congrats on getting the first rental under your belt. 

Along with the Thousands of vacant lots in the ubran cores of the Rust belt and deep south cities that have been blighted but the lots and infrastructure exits .. problem is can you get people to live there ? 

Once you get a few deals under you belt and have a fund started, snowballing becomes much easier.

I have had this goal of buying my first duplex and have talked to real estate investors, realtors, lenders, appraisers and have been encouraged so much to where I am anxious to dive into this.Now that I am 18 I have absolutely no debt, a credit score of 727, I have 28k sitting in a certificate of deposit, a couple years of working consistently under my belt, I’ve also been investing in my Roth IRA, I feel very blessed to be in this situation.I am still in high school, I know it wouldn’t be smart to buy a house right now but something in me is so anxious to buy this house I know I have to have patience but I don’t know if I should start the process of getting pre approved, finding a good investor friendly realtor, lender, preparing my documents or if I should just wait.When analyzing deals in my market I have crystal clear real estate deal criteria my strategy is house hacking a duplex, price range of 500,000-600,00 in Salt lake, Utah! 

Quote from @April Sanders: Hello all...I am have been working on analyzing deals but really struggling with estimating rehab costs.