This is not personal, but if a person cannot save money now real estate is the worst investment to get into as it is one of the most cost intensive businesses to be in.  

Partnering with local experts who understand zoning, permitting, and market nuances can help you avoid costly mistakes and maximize returns.If you're in a high-cost area, out-of-state investing can provide access to markets with better entry points and higher ROI potential.

But I am not trying to sell the note, I will continue to hold it, and in the worst-case scenario, the borrower will become current, or in the best-case scenario I will foreclose and gain equity.

You can hear real-world examples of how others have built their investment portfolio and (hopefully) learn to avoid their mistakes.4.

I ended up investing out of state in a more landlord friendly / cost effective market.First thing I'd recommend is figuring out your investing strategy (single family / small multi-family 2-4 units) and attend some local meet ups to network with other investors to learn from their mistakes.

And someone jumping into this as a complete newbie can expect that they have a decent chance of making some expensive newbie mistakes.

The worst part is somehow these big names companies are above the regulation (Well, I guess the regulation was there at the beginning because these companies lobbied the hack out the government) and they can run STR where other hosts can't run. 

I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts and advice.Best,Kevin In Pittsburgh at least FHA isn't necessarily a problem, but you can't be super aggressive about you offer price with most sellers unless you're the only one interested/offering. 203k is tough to get accepted, but a typical FHA isn't the worst. 

I often make the mistake of thinking the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence when going through the forums.

You made a mistake by referencing her job and more in your eviction notice.Hope you've learned your lesson!