Otherwise, probably the best might be to go to investor Meetup so you can chat a variety of people, get the exposure and understanding to the various facets of REI, and go from there.Good luck.

I've listened to 100 or so episodes of the podcast and have become super interested in so many different facets of real estate investing.

From those of you who have been around a bit can you take a look and see if im missing vital info or if this works.

How do you ensure the vitality of 20k?

That being said, in a sitaution like that, it's vital that you invest in a growing area with reliable appreciation- you'll need that equity to leverage if you want to grow. 

Do you own all facets of the operation?

Give Ron Vital of Airflow AC and HVAC a call.

One valuable tip I’ve already realized is the higher-than-expected property tax on investment properties in the Indianapolis area, referenced by @Victor Tatyanin in a recent post (I was quite disappointed by this, but of course this is vitally important information!)

When you are talking to your sellers, you want one vital piece of information.

I’m not completely blind to other facets of the investment puzzle, but monthly cash flow is, by far, my primary concern and desire.