I'm also have a conservative mentality.

I am at a point where I am mentally ready to invest and feel like the best education left for me to get is actual experience. 

The biggest difference is the mentality of real estate investors versus banks.

After turning 30 and having our first daughter, I flipped my mental state 180° and began obsessing over my health and future.I've been scouring these forums and listening to the Bigger Pockets podcast.

Since getting a W2 job two months ago, I've focused my spare time (and mental energy) on managing and investing my fixed income. 

Mentally prepare yourself to spend another 10 to 20% repairing stuff that wasn't obvious at the beginning. 

I came across Bigger Pockets and was instantly intrigued, not only by the way they explained real estate investing to a newbie, but by the challenge it can create creatively and mentally.

To get the mentality of an investor- Rich dad poor dad is a good one. 

I have made my share of mistakes and they can be mentally draining and financially painful. 

For a genuine hoarder, 6 months would not be enough anyway, heck, 12 months would not be long enough since they have mental blocks preventing them from throwing things away.