Keep the funds away from your day to day accounts.Check your insurance.

@Raymond Keith WhittingtonStart real estate investing by educating yourself, setting clear goals, building a network, understanding your budget, choosing a strategy, analyzing potential deals, starting small, and learning about legal and tax planning.

I'd say your first move should be to house hack and get out of the apartment, this is the most beginner-friendly way to get started, and as you continue to educate yourself you'll be better equipped to find other deals as you learn.

@Joel SiguawDo nothing with it until you educate yourself to know what you are doing.

Today that property is a LTR and rented to family.

All we can do is look at what is happening TODAY.

In today's market if you are "without a lot of capital to start out with" as you said, most strategies aren't going to work or be worth your while right now.

Bigger Pockets is a great place for education and networking and is full of great content.I recommend that you check out the following resources:1.

I spoke with a banker today and they need him to apply in person to open an account because he's 70% owner.

Yes time and place for everything, but also just because your buddy does it does not mean its right. yup would have to be a knuckle head to believe that 50 a month for life is better than 1 mil today.. its why folks that win the lottery take the cash..