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.  

I have a steady job that could be a career if I want it to, but I'm looking into ways to supplement my income and possibly to work for myself.

When I first moved in to our current property we rented out space that was not being utilized to help supplement the repair costs for other areas of the property.

My goal in real estate is to set myself up for retirement and develop an income stream to supplement my day job.

You are not them, even if they aren't puffing, hyping and lying about the financial opportunities that are easily applied.You are not getting a true education when a program is tied to or supplemented by any association with that instructor or program.

But to expect an above-average success, you are in a better position with a better hand to start.Example: self-manage experience (save PM fee), all-cash purchase (no loan payment) or enough income or asset to supplement your cash flow when you start out with first one with empty calendar. 

My goal is to supplement current investments with real estate income via long term buy and hold rentals.