I have a good FT job in education administration, but I want to retire asap, focusing on RE (so, not really retiring, but you get the idea).

Since I’m still in school I don’t have much money, I’m trying to learn as much as I can about real estate so that way once I get a job out of college and a steady income I’ll know what to do with my money.

Alternatively, once you have a full time job (or an employment contract), you should be able to qualify for a loan and utilize a Down Payment Assistance program.

However, I am still very hands-on for my management business, typically logging 80 hours a week between my two jobs.

Is this a highly populated area, are there lots of jobs, are people moving to the area or is the population declining?

I had more than one contractor do a great job on the first and then go downhill from there.

Also, focus on 2 years of job/income stability.Class D Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with little, maybe even negative, relative rent & value appreciationVacancy Est: 20%+ should be used to cover nonpayment, evictions & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores under 560 (almost 30% probability of default), little to no good tradelines, lots of collections & chargeoffs, recent evictions.

Also, focus on 2 years of job/income stability.Class D Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with little, maybe even negative, relative rent & value appreciationVacancy Est: 20%+ should be used to cover nonpayment, evictions & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores under 560 (almost 30% probability of default), little to no good tradelines, lots of collections & chargeoffs, recent evictions.

If you made those free they'd be complaining about jobs or supermarket deserts or lack of public transportation or some other issue.

Jobs are always a good indicator of growth areas especially good high paying jobs.