I had a similar goal to yours where I wanted to learn how to underwrite multifamily deals.

You don't need to waste a few years working for someone else, but it will help if you learn from those that have done it before you. 

I've been living in WA State for a year and have been learning my local market (I live about 45 min northwest of Tacoma on the Kitsap peninsula) while saving to buy my first property.The high home prices and high interest rates are making it challenging to find good deals.

This is a great place to learn and further investigate investing in real estate.

Aside from RE (but business goals related) I'd like to do financial advising on a consulting basis, am currently getting my CFP, and have been pursuing financial independence for six years and hope to be FI within the next 3-5 years.I'd love a mastermind group that can discuss real estate and business/investing goals and progress, be inspired by others successes, and learn from one another.

He followed a simple formula: save money, buy in an area you know, like, and trust, then rinse and repeat while learning along the way.

I had to lure a few friends with low rent to move in with me while I learned how to rehab.  

Looking forward to learning then sharing my knowowledge with the community. 

Once you get a little experience and have learned a few things from using tenant cloud, etc... it may be easier to screen without paying extra fees, but that's just me, I like infrastructure when I'm new at something.  

@Dylan Lersch However while you’re saving money and improving your credit score keep learning, reading, listening to podcasts, following the forums, asking questions, and analyzing deals.