Oh also number one skill to develop regardless of the route you take is being able to identify and get in contact with motivated sellers.

No real talent, no skills, no friends that are not being bought. 

. #3: onshoring base-line manufacturing (a) creates more employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labor (b) creates more employment opportunities of jobs that elevate and train unskilled too skilled labor  (c) raises base-line wages and benefits via competition for unskilled labor (d) elevates the entire economic chain via more domestic circulation of $ and (e) less exporting of USD #4: stopping illegal immigration defends and protects legal immigration.

You put a 3.5% down payment on a house that goes up 7% in 12 months you just made a 200% return that didn't take any large amount of skill or time.

I did have a good job, but more importantly my parents knew I had the skills to make the deal happen.

They instead lack the skill to do a proper bid.

Even if you are not cash flowing on day one, that's okay (in my opinion), you're not paying the full mortgage on your own, which in of itself is a huge win and you learn other tangible real estate investing skills along the way by simply owning. 

PM is a great foundational skill to move you forward.

They use an economic vacancy figure instead of breaking out loss to lease, bad debt, and concessions so as to conceal their assumptions but a skilled operators can reverse calc it.

I go to a shop and pay them, because I don't trust my mechanical skills, even with something as basic as an oil change.Any tax preparer anywhere, including franchises like H&R Block, should be able to prepare your taxes correctly.