However, weighing your options and performing due diligence carefully based on your specific circumstances, the property's potential, and your long-term goals.

If you don't have money set aside for emergencies then you should tread carefully.

Be careful.

Find them at local real estate meetups, but be careful, it's a sketchy business overall.

You just have to be careful because some sales agents will just advise you to over improve the property because it makes their job easier.

Be careful taking any loan without knowing your numbers. 

At the end of the day, 99% of sellers and brokers only care about your surety to close (I leave out 1% that might care about HOW you operate your deals, regardless of price paid).The fact that you have never closed a large transaction AND are not providing all your proof of funds up front and/or talking with brokers about where the money is coming from, will give them some trepidation.  

I still think if you're an investor, you need to run your numbers carefully. 

The 15-20 year run people had is gone, so be VERY careful with listening to some of these "real estate gurus." 7.

The politicians don’t really care the negative outcomes and just want the votes.