It is easy to spend thousands of dollars in marketing and have nothing to show for it.

If you learn how to use Hard Money loans properly and how to find good deals in need of rehab, there are plenty of areas of the country where you could buy 3-4 rent properties in solid middle class areas with good cashflow.

It forces me to call VRBO to reset the account but luckily they are easy to get a hold of and fix.  

We network with other fix & flippers teaching them how to properly structure a seller financed note so that it has value on the secondary market, we then buy a partial from them to take out most, if not all, of their cost basis so they can recapitalize and go do another deal. 

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

Definitely screen properly and don’t cut corners!

There are fees associated with going to Real Estate school, obtaining your license, joining the board and MLS for your area, getting proper E&O insurance and so forth. 

Quote from @Grant Shipman: Hey BiggerPockets Community,If you’re raising capital for real estate syndications, you need to be aware of SEC regulations—because one wrong move could put you in serious legal trouble.Many new syndicators think they can just start pooling money from investors without following the proper rules.

Knowing what you are capable of and/or having proper resources can lead to great deals in any market.   

I would generally say no if you don't have a property unless you're looking for peace of mind knowing that you've set your financial life properly.