My husband and I are still practicing our budgeting skills - it is not easy and we are not in a real groove yet.  

What skills would you teach yourself and what type of people would you surround yourself with in order to learn the game? 

A good landlord can sometimes turn around a bad tenant with skillful management techniques, and/or will avoid renting to them in the first place. 

Lots of building skills as a carpenter.

Real Estate Investing works under a different set of standards than buying or selling a home to live in, and it requires particular knowledge and a set of skills that not every real estate agent/broker possesses.

Also let me know if there is any honest and skilled contractor in DFW area!

You have skill sets and certain experience attributes that are helpful in real estate.

Working for me to overcome those obstacles: determination that will see me through hard times, a creative mind that will find a way when none presents itself, hard work and discipline enough to take what little education, capital, connections, skills, and experience I do have and make it work.I'm fascinated by REI and believe I can be successful in this market given enough hard work and perseverance.

I have a broad skill set and have worked in an array of industries in my career.  

Even though I have not been active in real estate for many years, I have done what I can to keep up with the field and keep the skills I have developed honed by knowing what the local markets are like and I always keep an eye out for investment property.