I think one of the most rewarding things was when three of the neighbors came over and thanked us for fixing up the property - in what other industry do complete strangers thank you for making money doing something you love? 

Or invest in somewhere where the cash flow wouldn't be as great, but the appreciation would be very rewarding over the long haul (LA, SF, NY, Hawaii, etc.)?

Watching this process from start to finish I became interested in Real Estate, as it seemed like a very rewarding career, working with people and helping them with one of the largest decisions in their life.

Putting the sellers Realtor on my side worked like a charm.

Ultimately it's a risk vs. reward calculation of opportunity cost. 

For a buy and hold, I don't think the risk reward makes sense.

I don't ever plan to make this a full-time gig as my career as an engineer is fun and rewarding, but I like the idea of owning multiple properties and the financial flexibility that comes along with that.My wife and I purchased a new construction home in 2009 and took advantage of the $8k homebuyer credit.  6 years later we are selling our home at roughly a $15k loss, which is certainly unpleasant.  

Those are the guys I work hard to keep happy as they do for me.This is how you do the "reward" for the trades people who give you good service.  

@Shana Miller - Welcome to BP, you are on you way to conquering your REI fears.After becoming more knowledgeable and confident because of your immersion on this site, take action to snag your first real estate investment deal.Don't get caught up in analysis paralysis.You must immerse yourself in the RE marketplace locally in your neighborhood or afar if the situation warrants it.Take calculated risks if needed and you shall be rewarded!"

It doesn't matter if you are young or old, totally new or need to build upon your experience.Yes, you have just announced a commitment to the thousands in this community about your seriousness regarding REI and have taken this bold step to affirm it.Your time on this site and with the BiggerPockets community will be well spent and can be financially rewarding if you so desire.You are here at the Forum, but, should raise your mouse to the top and explore the otherheadings displayed.Don't get overwhelmed by the massive amount of data archived on this site.Simply, bone up on the areas that you need to expand knowledge in such as, Forums,Marketplace, Learn, Network, Analyze, Resources.Feast on the Podcasts, #askbp Podcasts, blogs, webinars and the myriad of bookrecommendations.Also, you can review the quick links below to help solidify your grip on this site.http://www.biggerpockets.com/starthere http://www.biggerpockets.com/ubg http://www.biggerpockets.com/meet Setting up Keyword Alerts How to Use @Mentions on BiggerPockets 25 Tips for Real Estate SuccessAfter becoming more knowledgeable and confident because of my above suggestions, take action to snag your first real estate investment deal if new or add to your existing holdings if you have prior experience.Don't get caught up in analysis paralysis.You must immerse yourself in the RE marketplace locally in your neighborhood or afar if the situation warrants it.Take calculated risks if needed and you shall be rewarded!"