Maybe we can kick the acquisition habit sometime in retirement ; )

I don't like it and I think it teaches bad habits (i.e. relying on estimates vs. actuals... it's intended just to be a guide and not used for actuals, but people don't always pick up on that).

They can also have a strange habit of staying vacant during the low-times as they're not so near development and jobs.

I would focus on changing your spending habits to ensure you stop racking up credit card debt.

Banks like seeing that W-2 so you having a job is pretty vital, at least when starting out.  

@Timothy R Vitale

@Mary MitchellYou can always “ contribute” more to help the kids or fix the roads or study matIng habIts of bears ...

Try your local county Vital Stastistics department.

But they are in neighborhoods that are renter dominated and the existing homes still sell for less than replacement costs.. so until those existing homes sell for more than they cost to replace you wont have any real building in the lower value areas unless its subsidized by Habitat or other non profits..

To start off, I listen to BP podcasts everyday(their info is GOLD), I have read and am reading some real estate books, I have been budgeting and saving my money, and practicing to get the right mindset and habits in place.