Spend a lot lot lot of time examining what kind of real estate investor you want to be and where and what you want to invest in. 

Someone can collect all the stats in the world, for example, but if they don't know how to interpret them, they're useless.

They know what areas to examine and what assets commonly get damaged by wear and tear.

Please avoid Lubbock if you believe those stats.

I'm also thinking about getting my real estate license and my understanding so far is that you don't just pay for the online course and the exam, in order to keep your license, you have to pay annual fees for many things.

I suggest you consider him as you examine possibilities.Charles LeMaire

area knowledge, stats driven and good comm

I tapped on the crime stats and the crime stats listed were for a city that was NOT our city but instead a city that has a notoriiously high crime rate.

Hmm, two bank examiners participating in the same thread.

Do it over and over, get good at it, and THEN branch out into other areas.As for which way to start, examine your assets and strengths (as well as your weaknesses).