As your first property, it'll teach you a lot about managing and owning a rental property, at which point you can scale into other properties in more affordable/attractive markets.Robert Leonard

Wanted to hear if anyone had recommendations of great influencers who help teach or tell the world about real estate investing.

I really just want to get a deal under my belt as I know it will teach me more than anything. 

I even lived in my 4-door sedan for more than half of 2018 while I finished self-teaching myself to be a software engineer.2019, things are much different!

Bigger pockets was a great teaching tool Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

@Jay Ragland I will be teaching out to you shortly.

An experienced attorney with real estate investing experience can help you form an LLC that covers you, then should also teach you how to implement the bookkeeping to ensure there is no commingling.

I'm going to an event in Feb which will teach all about this topic.

My goals are to learn as much as I can about the investing aspect of the industry, acquire rental properties, build my portfolio and pay it forward by teaching others.I'm hoping this is a good step toward my goals.........

Everything you need or that they could teach you is here on BP in the forums or on the podcasts for free. $5500 is a nice couple rounds of marketing, don't give that kind of money away!