Although I did not take this route, I imagine having a career in finance specifically real estate lending could provide a stable income as well as a tremendous source of knowledge and networking opportunities.Financing is one of the most important aspects of REI if not the most.

full disclosure: I worked for 15 years in the investment management industry (ex BlackRock) and have invested in real estate for the past 20 years, now full time.Despite what responses you’ve been given on here (most are from those who have no experience in finance), investment decisions are yours to make alone, and they have absolutely to do with your specific investment goals and the available investments you have available to you.You should ask yourself: “what specially do I want to achieve financially in my life?”

Some landlords are horrible and paint a bad picture as well and since people don't scream from the rooftops they have the #1 landlord who is the fairest, best priced, and an all around great person, these bad ones are the landlords that get highlighted. 

If I were to go back in time, I probably would've bought a home every opportunity I had and scaled to infinity and beyond.Originally posted by @Matt Dinofia:I’ve never had a PM add value.

Inflation over the long term and Buzz Lightyear say prices are going To Infinity and Beyond!

@Gavin Beard - I am also 24 and in the storage game…I graduated from college with a degree in finance and although I did learn some things, I learned WAY more from mentors/people in the business.

Otherwise, you're going to be looking at something in finance, being an agent/broker, working at a property management company or for a developer.

I never worked in tech but my main career was in finance and logistics at large corporations so I have good understanding of the corp world. 

What a different world I now live in.My background is in finance.

Hello all,I currently work an 8-5 job that is very analytical and numbers-oriented.With a solid background in finance, I would like to leverage my skills in analyzing deals and get started in the real estate investing arena.GOAL:Purchase SFR (3/2) rental property in the next 12 months to create passive income sourceRequirements of SFR: ≥$200 per month in cash flow (Income – Operating Expenses – Debt Service)Use property management companyGood location (schools, low-crime, etc.)Certain property condition criteria (ex. no foundation problems, etc.)Financing options: Seller financing would be ideal, but I understand this is 1 in 100Most attractive alternative:Conventional loan – 80% (thus, 20% down payment)Most or all of down payment financed through private lenderThus, my only out-of-pocket costs would be rehab expenses (but best case scenario if private lender can cover those as well)As you can see, my goal is to buy an SFR with as-little-to-no money down as possible (at a nice discount, of course) and create instant equity through forced appreciation.A few questions for you experienced investors out there: Does this financing sound reasonable?