It's pretty easy to see that real estate proces peaked around 2007-2008 and then crashed during the Great Recession.Around 2011-2012 prices started to recover and got back to their pre-Crash highs around 2015-2016, but really 2018-2019 when adjusted.So, why are newbies reading books written BEFORE 2019 and thinking that you can still successfully invest using the EXACT advice in these relatively "old" books?

Just saying there are people on BP who can vouge for you as Melanie is typically very negative towards anyone in the syndication / raising money space. 

Lots of investment in the region as well so hopefully quality job growth will continue.

Small businesses are typically valued at a multiple of SDE.

Investment Info:Single-family residence buy & hold investment.

Quote from @Michael Challenger: I have no qualms with hard money lending, but I need to learn more about the process and structure to these for typical deals so that I am more comfortable and in a position to reduce my personal risk and risk to investors as much as possible.

I am looking for some help and advice on whether or not this property seems like a smart first investment. 

You typically need up to two years of stable employment before a bank will loan to you.

Then you can read a more in-depth book like The Book On Rental Property Investing by Brandon Turner or The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing by Spencer Strauss.2.

Hello,I am a real estate investor located to Southeast MA, I own and manage a small portfolio of 23 units and am looking to expand and scale out of state as the returns and market have been quite difficult in my area: due to CAP Rates, specific building class I am looking to invest in, and rising interest rates/minimal inventory, as well as it would be nicer to be diversified and in a more landlord friendly state.