Identify area and criteria, and make offers on at least 10 different properties (or until I purchase one).3) Get back in the habit of going to the gym at least 4 days a week, and adjust diet to loose 10 lbs.4) I have written some cool software to help evaluate deals, and I think other investors may find it useful.

Lots of mistakes and trial & error got us here.)Plan on a few hundred per month to for the data. 

, became an agent - a broker - an investor - an auctioneer and owner of a REIA and a real estate training operation in Baltimore.I don't regret all of that entertainment and some of the useless hours of frustration trying all the "way-out-there formulas", the turn downs - wasted money on envelopes, stamps - driving for dollars - walk and talk - open houses - sitting in rent court -etc.So now fast forward the clock to 48 years later  WOW - now at 74 years old, I am so glad I was able to make all the mistakes in real estate when I was younger - the school of the streets - trial and terror is where I really learned how to make money - negotiate - assign and contract engineering.Young - just getting started investors really have it made today - it is lots easier to acquire great information - Bigger Pocket - real estate chat rooms - the internet- mentoring -etcWhen I started there was no internet - cell phones - computers - I thought it was really something when I actually purchased a pager.Training and education is a great way to learn - even some of that useless stuff.Your best teacher is the School of the streets - trial and terror -Study and learn your market - understand values and creative financing - learn Control and Roll Formulas.It is interesting and profitable to realize that you don't have to buy real estate to make a profit - controlling properties is the highest leverage an investor can use, you want to be more market savvy than agents in your area.

This was s trial.

Mack  -- go to the  School of the Streets Smarts- trial and error.Visit the court house auctions - watch what goes on - meet REAL INVESTORS there, collect cards - get to know them.Go to your local Housing Court as often as you can - this is where landlords have to go to have a trial in order to sue for their rent - these are REAL INVESTORS and motivatedGo to Housing Court in your area - this is where landlords and owners of properties go to tell the judge why they have not abated a housing code violation. 

basically they're quite surprised that anyone rents vacation rentals in my area, the only sure way is to list your property and see how many people inquire about booking, that's what happened to me, the amount of replies surprised me, I was planning of giving it a one month trial and it's 1 1/2 years later.

If you sign up for the free audible trial they will send you coupon codes periodically for 3 discounted months which works out to be a pretty good deal. 

The foreclosure process for liens is usually a little longer, since a regular civil trial usually takes longer than say a non contested foreclosure, particularly in Lee county with their "rocket docket".  

I have now, after some trial and error, a wonderful property manager, a young mom who likes the flexibility, and who i am trying to treat very well, and a couple of good cleaners and a handyman who allow me to run this from another country. 

Make a deal with him, this first one is a trial period, if you do good on your word then I will sign.