Less risky and you can have a better start.

Just started our own firm investing in and managing property in our relatively new (~5 years now) home in Charleston, SC.Happy to be a resource to anyone and look forward to making quality local connections!

The sooner you start getting your hands dirty, the quicker that experience will come.

You are off to a good start being on Bigger Pockets.

I'm going to start writing weekly logs of my journey as a landlord - successes and mistakes.

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

@Kevin Waymire - it's great to start thinking about this now.

What I usually see is that they start with the average $/sq.ft of the sales price in the area.

Are they going to start paying down that credit card debt, turn over a new leaf, and avoid bankruptcy for the next decade? 

Starting in real estate is exciting but comes with its own set of challenges.