Should I sit at the sidelines for a few extra months before I have enough extra money to feel comfortable jumping in? 

I'm likely going to be on the sidelines for a year or so.

Hi @Ashli Addison, welcome to BP and the REI world, yes i agree there can definitely be an information overload with educating yourself in REI, but its good that you are now jumping to take the next step and get some forward motion on your business, while you will never stop learning taking the first steps and making real progress is a big accomplishment and one step most new people never take "study from the sidelines" but best of luck with your REI adventures and post up any deals/success/questions you get, we all like to see each other succeed,good luck,jay,

In some situations it can be but should newbies sit on the sidelines looking for owner-financing deals instead of getting in the game?  

Thinking of keeping it local for my first investment but to your point I may be waiting on the sidelines for sometime before the math starts to look attractive for Buy and Hold out here.

Like I said, I am ready to step up from the sidelines and get in the game but I don't want to make a horrible decision.

I don't know if you have noticed or not but flippers work hard, many sideline observers think flipping is puppies and rainbows but it's not, it's just another job ...

We have been on the sidelines for too long, but we have been preparing, reading and driving for dollars over the past couple of months.

And the prices are insane for properties so I was planning on sitting on the sidelines until the values become 'normalized' and then jump back in.... 

Don't just stand on the sidelines analyzing.