In the last 9 months while working a new full time job (when I started my real estate journey) I have one rental house currently rented out and cashflowing, a fix and flip that is in process, and I just made an offer for a duplex with seller financing and limited money down that will cash flow nicely.

It is a nice area in a great school district.

@Benjamin MolinaIt was an appreciation play and likely putting their cash in a safe haven.There is a lot of speculation on Midtown area at the moment with the new arena and new property developments going up. 

It's nice to meet with people to share ideas and work on deals together.

Fresno seems to have decent cash flowing multi family properties (at least on paper)  Thanks, yes Fresno is also high on murder rates and low on economic development, so be careful and do your research.Personally, long-term I still like Oakland and the East Bay, but I believe these markets peaked late last year and prices are currently flattening or are on the way down...your timing is critical.Here's the current cycle for MultiFamily, that shadows SFR most closely:

So, me trying to be nice and help, I agreed.I know what you're thinking right about now "this guy is an idiot" and regarding this specific scenario, you're right!

I call around for off market properties and so does my office worker every day.When you can show them the money and the track record  they start to listen.I have a call tomorrow with a developer for an off market retail center in the 5 to 6 million range.

@David Neilson,Welcome to the Best Real Estate Site on the Net.It is always nice to see another Ct., resident in the forums.Click on the "Education Tab" at the top of the page, and you could be spending many hours on the Information that is available.Raymond

Hell, if I could just move this house somewhere, that would be nice lol.  

I don't mean to go against the grain of those who are selling that idea - all I can say is that it did not work for me.So.......... back to taking seminars, buying cassette tapes and books - I wanted to learn everything I could about investing in real estate ---- so--I had to get money, working capital, and I needed to go on the cheap - A friend told me about cheap properties you could buy in Baltimore - houses for only $2-3,000 and many of them could be found at public auctions.After borrowing some money and getting some credit cards and a new job - one in sales - I was ready - ready to invest in cheap- junk properties in the City.And wouldn't you know it - I got lucky at my first auction and purchased a cheap house that was boarded up - Because of all those expensive seminars I enrolled in I WAS READY - prepared with my pry-bar, flash light, level, marble and probe - I decided to go to this building that was being auctioned the next day - I sort of removed some plywood and crawled through a window to take a look -Boy was I surprised - this place looked great - I later found out that the estate boarded it to keep squatters out.The next day - I was ready with my deposit and waiting for the auctioneer to start his melodious hypnotic chant - 5 bidders appeared but did not bid because they could not get it - I was the only bidder and got the house real cheap.Today as an auctioneer, investor and developer of commercial properties - if someone would ask my opinion on how to get started I would suggest ---Continue to study but learn how to cut through the BSGet a credit line Learn 20 creative financing techniques - no money down systems (that is none of your own money)Hang with a few successful investors and pick - pick - pick their brain*** Look at 50 houses in the area you intend to invest (not expensive, blue collar, mixed rental and home owner neighborhoods)When you are finished looking at 50 properties - you will be armed with knowledge that most agents and other investors don't have - knowledge of values -Keep a journal, put listings in it, write down everything the agent or owner says, keep a record of the cost per square foot - this will help determine values -Have agents send you expired listings - go knock on the door or send a letter to ask if they are still accepting offers on the property - Remember an expired listed is a property that failed to sell - the seller should still be motivated to sell.