If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing and The BiggerPockets Podcast.

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing and The BiggerPockets Podcast.

But it is not easy.I suggest you start with the Ultimate Free Beginners Guide right here on Bigger Pockets.

However, the more I utilize #1, the more systems, processes, management, and energy involvement there is, which ultimately takes the focus off of #2; examples are: managing private lenders, managing rehab projects, managing tenants and seller financing buyers, short sale processes, etc...

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing and The BiggerPockets Podcast.

Ultimately, the seller will decide if they want to sell or not -- but if they sell with an agent representing them, the agent will most likely be entitled to his commission.So, if your goal of talking to the seller is to be able to negotiate directly, go for it.

One of my SFH's in NW COS that survived last years fire got hammered in the big rainstorm this september. 25k flood damage in the basement.

@Raymond KoolmanWelcome.Check out the Start Here page http://www.biggerpockets.com/starthereCheck out BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginner's Guide - A fantastic free book that walks through many of the key topics of real estate investing.Check out the free BiggerPockets Podcast - A weekly podcast with interviews and a ton of great advice.

I would like to ultimately build up a portfolio of rental properties that provide enough passive income to live on.

@Terry LeeWelcome.Check out the Start Here page http://www.biggerpockets.com/starthereCheck out BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginner's Guide - A fantastic free book that walks through many of the key topics of real estate investing.Check out the free BiggerPockets Podcast - A weekly podcast with interviews and a ton of great advice.