My goal is to supplement my pension upon retirement by creating enough cash flow to sustain my family without having to lose quality time with them.I am eager to learn and look forward to engaging investors here.

Supplement that with all the things you can learn here on BP and you'll be good to go before you know it.

Finding a local REIA is a great way to supplement your learning along with the BP podcast and forums.

But I think the answer depends on your goals.Ive been reading "The Unofficial Guide To REI" which does a good job at explaining how to build a plan around your goals.The starting investment is only a part of the equation.Do you want passive income and retire early or just something to supplement your social security?

Remeber to under estimate the power of a regular "job" income to supplement your REI.

Zachary Scott Add a window unit to supplement the underperforming A/C.

With the help of BP, and some supplemental reading in the way of Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Intelligent Investor, and a few guides to Real Estate Investing; I've gone from financially illiterate to reading at probably a second grade level.

My goal with investing is to provide enough supplemental income that I can do freelance programming and be picky about my clients, rather than having to take on bad projects just to make ends meet.My general strategy is to purchase gross looking places (e.g. a C house in a B neighborhood) and fix them up into something a family or young professional would want to live in.

One more thing, re agents work on commission, which is essentially pay for performance...and the reason commissions paid are so high is because not every effort pays off...the sales have to supplement the clients/listings that fail to buy/sell.

Keep in mind that additional damages or repairs are common throughout the restoration period, they are called supplements.