Initially when I started my father was pretty anti-real estate investing, lecturing me on how risky it is, etc.

Some individuals do best in a lecture style sit in course.

The instructor is from NYU and there is some great content in the lecture series.

I attended several of your lectures and you talked about going directly to the lender and buying properties at discount.

Next time you should call it a lecture. just sit and lisson to what I have to say and dont say a word or ask any questions.. one of my professors likes it that way... terrible way to learn.

Sure you might succeed, but the odds are not in your favor.Doing a direct mail campaign after driving for dollars in those sub $200k areas would be akin to studying all semester, attending all the lectures while taking good notes, and doing your homework before taking an exam.

Lecturers just tell you the content of their book.

Ok, now that you have taken your initial step, below are some quick links to get engaged. http://www.biggerpockets.com/startherehttp://www.biggerpockets.com/meetSetting up Keyword AlertsHow to Use @Mentions on BiggerPocketshttps://www.biggerpockets.com/ruleshttps://www.udemy.com/biggerpockets-real-estate-investing-course/ (video with 64 lectures and approx 6hrs of material)You mentioned an interest in flips, so, I added a guide below.http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/01/07/flipping-houses/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing (Ultimate beginner's guide to REI)REI can be very daunting, but, before you go searching for that 1st buy, please take a few minutes to bone up on the tips in link below.https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/12/19/real-estate-investing-success-smart-tips/REI books suggested by BPershttp://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/04/14/best-real-estate-books/?

As per the IRA I will be attending a lecture from Equity Trust this evening on how to use an IRA for real estate as well as becoming a lender.

I had to lecture the tenants of one house where three elderly ladies live.