Here are some practical tips and insights based on my experience managing a real estate fund and working in this field.First, setting realistic expectations.

If you don't already have boots-on-the-ground and a trusted network, it's going to be tougher to do.

Funds can offer returns through cash flow and appreciation without tenant drama or maintenance calls.REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts): These are more like investing in the stock market but still tied to real estate.

House hacking and multi-family properties are great ways to start in real estate!

Getting one property and cashflowing it will be a challenge. you can try seller financing but you are still going to be highly levered which just enhances the risk that you are taking on.The best way to grow is to focus on managing your rental, saving money through your W2 and crushing that - if you are a realtor you will make more crushing it as being a realtor than over leveraging real estate - then save for down payment and buy slowly. its not a rush.

You should be going to real estate investor meetups to meet other, more experienced investors, instead of looking at markets farther away before you really know what you are doing.

Best of luck as you start your real estate journey.

Commercial lending for real estate expansion is a relatively small demographic thus it flies below their radar.

Figure out how you want to handle you investing and what role real estate plays in that. 

That makes a real difference.Initially we had one originator, one part-time processor, and a part-time admin assistant.