Most of the time the big guys aren't going after the same properties as the smaller investors, it's way to time consuming.

We are a consumer nation and hopeful entrepreneurs looking for the American dream.So stay in school, do your due diligence.find your allies.And good luck with Real estate investing.

Its just too time consuming.

I would think dealing with a rental would be less time consuming unless you have a bad tenant or a problem with the property itself.

What the money will be used for - is it for consumer or non-consumer purpose?

You'd do better by using a CD as collateral at the bank for a series of short loans and paying them as agreed.It's easier to start with your own home, work that in first.Lenders look to the type of credit, consumer credit for more of the same, real estate they look to rent and previous RE loans.

You didn't have to consume any for the HOA to have a need to use water.

Values seem to be creeping up, which is something I haven't seen in awhile, and finding good investment isn't very easy to do since the area is so desirable that consumer buyers are willing to overpay for fixers.

If you have other consumer debt -- car, student loan, credit cards, etc. -- they get in line ahead of the mortgage payments.

The mortgage industry is full of organizations, like the American Banker's Association that has educational programs for members. hen, there are the alphabet soup agencies like the OCC, FDIC, CFPB and HUD that provide public consumables to enlighten anyone willing to look things up.