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).

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

It occurred to me today that I've never asked about umbrella insurance claims.I’m particularly interested in real-world examples where this type of policy came through during:Property damage (fires, storms, floods, etc.)Liability claims involving tenants or third partiesMajor unforeseen eventsIf you’ve ever had to file a claim and your umbrella policy saved your bacon, I’d love to hear:What happened?

it was an interesting process but basically, the novation allowed us to get the deal done without having to involve the banks. this was a huge motivation. that way I save on having to close twice. 

I think it is more beneficial to save for the downpayment + 6 months reserves and closing costs.

100% VA loan, which allowed me to put money saved towards renovations.How did you add value to the deal?

And yes, maybe "be patient and save" is the best move right now, until a good deal comes along.  

My general contractor told me to charge her a $400/month pet fee for four months –which would allow me to save up $1,600 to cover damages- and then give her 30 days notice in May when it will be warmer and faster to fill a unit.

Nobody watches your money like you do, you'll learn how to manage, so you can manage a manager later and you'll save precious early-years cash flow, which allows you to scale faster, especially in the first 5 years.

Use your 9-to-5 income to save aggressively, invest in your education, and network with experienced investors.