When entrepreneurs and capitalists create value, they enrich themselves and the economy in which they participate.Example: "Builder Bob" builds an apartment building of 10 apartments in Portland which is desperate for more housing.

Just find a good mentor to shadow, someone willing to impart from his/her experience, take them to lunch and make yourself useful to them, and they will teach you.Bonus for the weekend, my collection for starters (read the comments too, and then if you like the author, go check out what else they wrote):- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/stages-of-investing/- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/newbies-learn-real-estate-investing/- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/5-ways-to-know-youre-not-ready-to-invest/- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/ideal-vs-desperate-investor/- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/how-much-to-offer-property/- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/hazardous-attitudes-of-investors/- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2016/05/31/21-traits-scammy-real-estate-investment-guru/- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/youre-not-cut-out-to-be-real-estate-investor/- https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/questions-new-investors-should-ask/If that's not enough, ping me and I'll give you a collection of blogs and podcasts to follow.

Desperation does not lead to good decisions.

With all of the muni's here around Albany desperately trying to attract investment, I'd be pretty shocked if they did, but it could happen.

Obviously you are desperate for a tenant otherwise it is a given that my advice would be to pass on this applicant.

I love the other side of this business (buying), and when investors see it they're gonna see dollar signs, throw us a low ball offer and hope we are desperate enough to get rid of it. 

My $# at first was really low (nothing) because I was desperate to get out of the cubicle and my 1+ hour each way commute.  

@Mike Fletcher , desperate times call for desperate measures.

I low ball everyone and only buy from desperate sellers paying all cash.

Another thing that changes, is that we have redefined 'emergencies' to mean the REAL ones (like a desperately wanted vacation doesn't qualify as an 'emergency': if we wanted that we would sooner find a cheap/ free alternative to get the benefits of vacation, etc. )I strongly encourage anyone that does not yet save on a consistent basis to start with 10% (or another percentage amount) and see what happens.