I literally laughed through the phone at his suggestion, because I was broke, in debt, and in every way and unqualified borrower, and the lending environment in 2012 was probably stricter than it had been since the invention of the 30yr mortgage.

That will probably be your best bet, to buy a fixer and get it cleaned up and then rent it out.Best wishes and good luck with your endeavors.  

I think that this is a marvelous endeavor.

I think the key to getting a good start in REI is finding a way to have a high 9 to 5 income and using a good portion of it  invest in your real estate endeavors. 

Surround yourself with knowledgeable professionals who can support your real estate endeavors.

Good luck with your future endeavors! 

Not a casual endeavor.

Where better than Richmond, VA, a promising location for such an endeavor?

Good luck on your endeavors! 

Best of luck in all your endeavors.