Build a solid foundation before taking a step up - each and every step of the way.There’s a way to scale recklessly and there is a way to scale safely.When OPM is involved safe is way better than reckless.Despite a life long career in RE, I scaled as followsBought a few duplexes for my own accountBought a fourplex for my own accountBought 12 units as a JV with some friendsSyndicated 43 unitsSyndicated 30 unitsBought another 12 units as a JVSyndicated 281 unitsThis was over a 3 or 4 year period.and so forth - now I am GP in close to 1000 units with $125M AUM.Even with all that, my sweet spot is 30 to 50 unit properties - they work best for my partners and I and more importantly our investors. 

Very exciting you are looking to get into the RE investing world.Thanks for the interest in Rent To Retirement.

My partner is also very risk adverse and was not really interested at all in RE investing.

I wouldn't want to get too comfortable and just keep renting and not put my money into the RE market. 

When your tenants dont pay and your borrowers cant refi and your banks call your loans ( like we see happening RIGHT NOW in the MF space) projects and RE gets lost and investors get wiped out ..

Everyone in this Industry at least who sells RE to Homeowners NOT investors knows the cycles and right now the cycle is MORE LISTINGS period nationwide.. then come about Nov.. people slow way down B/C of the holidays and in other markets winter is slow because weather is so snotty..

Focus on having a budget and having a strong financial base EXACTLY I started RE sales right at 18 when I my license saved enough in the first 14 months to buy a home to  live in.. 

I drop them and use a competent local RE agent, who did a great job.   

The re-appraisals though give you a real big jump.

With land investing/flipping becoming more democratized/accessible  (so many landed courses, tools, resources etc), current prices/RE trends etc, is it still worth getting into land investing/flipping for a brand new RE investor ?