Hey Carlos, congratulations and great pick as far as the office.

Getting a referral from a fellow investor is OK, however that contractor may be good for the referee, but could be not so good for someone else.Contractors are special individuals - they too are chasing the buck and trying to get the best deal possible.You may want to write specifications  of what you want done - once you know what you want you can better compare bids from workman.I have found that meeting real people with real tools at a time they are buying supplies and materials at Home Depot 5:30 - 6 am picking up stuff to do their daily work is sometimes an effective way to find the craftsman you are looking for at a price that will serve you well.Getting referrals is OK - but how do you know that they didn't over-charge the person who is referring you to them?

Find someone in your area and pick their brain.  

I always feel that real estate (if you pick a good market) is a safer investment than the stock market. 

The Key of course is picking the sub markets - @Kevin Smith you're experiencing that first hand with your hand in both the Austin, TPA,  and the Orlando market and the differences tween them in terms of where they are in the cyclical curve..

Anyone working in Southern NH, having success, and willing to let me pick your brain?

Later we found that we don't need to suffer when we see their emails, we give their cease and decease notice for harassment, and said it will go into their file, then they stopped.Tenants who are picky on every small repairs, and called city for inspection, city came in and picked out 20 items for you  to repair, and costed you money for non-sense?

Google search "poorest zip code in South Carolina," pick a <$60k listing there, call the listing agent, tell her you want to write an offer but your bank won't do <$60k, ask for a lender referral. 

They have a newsletter full of content that you can customize with your contact info, and print off and distribute.Then, I would pick an area that you want to farm. start small, and add additional sections as money becomes available.If you are really eager, and ready to work for it, print off the most recent comps of your farm area (or the newsletter as mentioned above), and go walk the neighborhood. 

Shortly thereafter we purchased another duplex with a garage and shortly after that another duplex.Just when we thought that was it for the year having a goal of 50 units that I was leary of hitting, our broker called and said, hey I know where there are 12 more units that you can pick up for a reasonable price you just need to make an offer on them.