I have been spending the last few months extensively watching podcasts, reading books, the BP forums, and practicing analyzing properties. 

Since I'm out of state, I'm working with a Realtor as my boots on the ground to help me physically look at properties and analyze deals.  

I think you need to analyze what your skills\assets are and pick the model that best fits those.As an example, if you are in the construction industry and can do most anything then flipping might be the way to go.

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When it comes to Realtors, they will help you identify which areas of town are good to invest in and what to expect in rents, quality of tenants, how to analyze deals, provide you with investing opportunities (both on market and off market).Besides figuring out what your goals are, how you want to get started, and meeting like-minded people, the first action item would be to talk to a lender.

I've been researching, reading and networking for the past 6 months  Using sites such as "Redfin, Zillow, Trulia, Craigslist, Etc. to find properties and using the BP calculator to analyze properties, (goal is to analyze 100 properties by the end of the first quarter in order to truly understand how to analyze properties and cashflow).

I've been networking with agents and property managers; looking at listings and analyzing the costs and projected incomes.  

When analyzing a deal to buy as a rental, the main question to ask yourself, are you looking for long-term equity growth or month-to-month cash flow. 

My suggestion is to educate yourself on how to analyze markets.

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*This link comes directly from our calculators, based on information input by the member who posted.