This is not the best time to enter the business as a novice at least not without a mentor or partner who knows the business inside and out and significant financial liquidity.

As a novice investor, the biggest thing I struggled with was trying to get started.

@Kevin Keck, I'm a novice user as well but I'm wondering if skip tracing would produce better results (plus depending what type of trace you do you can get email addresses for people you're targeting).

Any insight would be great since I am a novice on this and trying to wrap my head around actual revenue as opposed to just net worth. 

Keep plugging away.I am a novice, but the numbers that I use in my calculations (or educated guesses) are:8% vacancy5% cap ex1% (of the property value annually) maintenanceI know you and I have talked off line and we are in very similar situations (stationed overseas with ties to the the Dayton area and trying to break into the investing back there).

I’m virtually a complete novice to real estate investing and looking to pick up my first piece.

I don't see the seller/agent adding capex if the numbers are tight..Or what do I know maybe the seller/agent trying to pull a quick one with a novice investor. 

I'm a novice investor so any advice is greatly appreciated. 

So, I am not a novice at jobsites. 

BP, this site, is probably the best tool at your disposal.I know of a Real Estate Crowdfunding portal that in conjunction with a construction company will help and educate the novice to begin flipping.