There are two factors the gurus hide and novice investors misunderstand:1) REI is a cash-intensive business and you really need it to participate.

Glad I found this site too.My experience in real estate is novice at best.

It all Sounded great, and I hear everything you guys are saying, however, I will do my own research because, I know that if someone is doing this, and it is good, they resent this guy for advertising it, because it'll kill the business. ( I used to buy tax liens for 18% returns, now they're actually bid down to 4-6% because of the large number of novices who read its a great investment and ruined the whole thing. ) I guess, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is", is a good thing to remember...

Dear Biggerpockets Pro membersI am a novice investor, investing mostly passively in California in single family rentals in "A" neighborhoods in the last 5 years.  

I'm a novice REI in CA looking to invest in this area...Have the problem areas mentioned improved at all in the last two years?

HI @Darlene Harwick , et al,I am a novice newbie :), and was initially going to do my first deal in VA or MN, however, as fate would have it, my parents have just offered me the opportunity to purchase their Palm Desert property (2bd/1.75ba).

I did both sort of simultaneously, searched for both qualified leads and serious buyers at the same time.I can only speak for myself and say that I am a novice so just take my word with a grain of salt. 

I live in Cape Coral, Florida.I'm a novice in real estate but I'm here to learn.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, but IMO tackling a tile job is not as easy as it may look to a novice.

If you come across as a novice or bring them ugly deals, they won't take it.