Absolute newbie here both to BP and realestate.Right now I am stuck in the rat race working as an account manager for an IT company and am going to devote myself to realestate investment as an exit strategy.My plan is to start with buy and hold and then start looking at flipping and wholesaling once I get better at estimating the amount of work a house or building needs.I am wide open to feedback and guidance from all the wonderful people here.Thanks,Luther

I want to use that opportunity to pursue bigger problems, whether they be in urban revitalization, tech, or international development.For me, financial freedom is a chance to be free from the rate race, but not a chance to be free from investment.

Occasionally you run into a seller who thinks his time shouldn't be wasted and whose high on his horse, but typically they regress after their property sits on the market a few months.I do choose my battles very carefully.

Best to get info from the horses mouth.

I hope REI eventually becomes a means to financial freedom, travel, and a back door out of the rat race if I get tired of that.For now, I'm open to learning in any way I can: connect and meet with fellow newbies or experienced investors/lenders/agents, shadow/help on visits/analysis/renovations, or partner and lend (with my limited capital and after due diligence) on deals.

I'm a part of the corporate rat race.

We would often sell them to cover loses from other projects, usually horses, then find another house and fix it up. 

- be explicitly inviting to all groups of people: male/female, young/old, all religions, race, orientation, etc.?

I just noticed this today when I posted an ad:Discrimination by race/origin, age, family status ('no kids' 'ideal for one'), disability, creed, sexual orientation, or income source is illegal under fair housing law.

First, when it comes to the Bay Area, I think the correlation between the tech industry and housing prices is much stronger than the correlation with any race or nationality.