i am just starting out and i am currently reading "the book on rental property". i currently live on guam and educating my self to invest into rental properties. 

If you do decide to keep the properties in your personal name, I would highly recommend getting sufficient (and likely even more-than-sufficient) liability insurance.

I'm really leaning toward self-study online, but I keep hearing that taking a live class in person is better for network building. 

I also keep a separate account for taxes (self escrow).  

If you plan on self managing the smaller investment nearby as a first investment it might save you some money but will also require your time.

@Martin Grizzanti I have, in fact I own a rental in Portland, Oregon that I self manage and am part of a syndication in Florida.  

In regard to your IRA and 401(k) are you planning to take the funds out of those accounts to invest in real estate, or a you planing to invest in real estate using self-directed IRA and 401(k)?

If you self manage, which a lot of people do, you can put they property mgmt fee in your pocket.

Self- FinancedHow did you add value to the deal?

I self mange the properties and rely on a whole bunch of different maintenance people but the Plumber/HVAC guy is the guy you need.