@Beatrice Ontiti we most certainly agree that adding new construction in a growth market to your portfolio would be a great next step! 

It seems like a simple thing, but reaching out in BiggerPockets about getting started as a real estate investor is a great first step.

This means, when conventional loans aren’t an option, you may still be able to get an FHA loan.The first step is to connect with a lender who can help you explore your options and determine if you qualify.2.

The lender rep or broker you are working with should be able to walk you through each step so you have a firm understanding of what has to happen in order to get your file to closing. 

Welcome to the world of real estate investing, and congratulations on taking the first steps toward learning about this exciting space!

Many have never even stepped foot in the US.

I think if you can nail that down you will be able to find a market easier.As a buy and hold investor some of the things that were important to me when deciding on a market were landlord tenant laws, price to rent ratio, housing demand, ability to build a team, large population 500K plus, multi-family availability and some other factors.take the process step by step and you will be fine. 

with some training on how to lend.. hopefully a step up from not knowing what they dont know about lending. 

Do you want to buy and hold for long run appreciation, do you want day 1 cashflow, are you wanting to flip and stair-step into higher value properties, the list goes on. 

This is a great first step into your financial future.