Cash reserves are a way to help you mitigate risk....but that is a factor completely independent of the risk involved in the activity.

There are great books and financial independence blogs that can teach you how to do this.Take the time you're learning to live on less to learn about REI.

When you're evaluating different turn key companies, in general, the ones to avoid are the ones that: Don't allow financing or a finance contingency (it can be a good indication they are selling above market value)Don't allow for your own independent property inspectionAre not realistic with their pro forma's (i.e. they don't include vacancy or maintenance projections or use unrealistically low vacancy factors)Require you to pay for any renovation upfrontSell only in cheap. low end neighborhoodsDon't accurately represent the neighborhood/property classificationDon't have consistent rehab standards for all propertiesWe've been active in Indianapolis since 2010 and would be happy to help.

And definitely get an independent inspection done, if you do buy.

I'm also aware of not being a social leech, so I try hard to be independent. 

I started my REI journey during the middle of last year after stumbling into it from personal finance podcasts such as ChooseFI, and after listening to some of the biggerpockets podcasts which spun me into the amazing world of real estate and how it can help me reach financial independence.

@Isaias Boesi be sure you know exactly what you're getting into and most importantly what areas you're buying in. Depending

Have you already checked out the BP Free Course https://www.biggerpockets.com/financial-independence-blueprint/newIt would be a good start here

Alex,   I am an active Independent Insurance adjuster. 

Hi everyone,I’ve always loved real estate and in coming across BiggerPockets, I feel like I’ve finally found a way to turn that into a way to create income and financial independence.