I know there are ways to get a higher ROI but you are paying for a real estate education too right?

The interest rate should not be as much of a worry (assuming you're not crazy leveraged). 

Let's say you have a typical small portfolio with buy and hold properties that are leveraged (let's say 70% LTV) but own one property outright.  

I am in my education phase now looking for a possible mentor in my area and working on my financing options!

The only thing is I need to learn more about the Flood Insurance process and need more education about purchasing in flood zones.

Been listing to BP podcast for about a year Big Fan,Great Education I've been trying to get the ball rolling this year to owner my first rental property wanting to house hack" so the beginning of the year I've started a savings just for my first deal we all know their are 52 weeks in a year so I vowed to myself to put $100 up a week its what I can afford on my salary but I've been going strong.

I'm currently doing the same, educating myself while waiting on the arrival of my second son.

Do your due diligence and then trust your numbers and pull the trigger.Get out of education mode and get into investment mode as soon as you can.

I find some security in having equity in the property and not being leveraged 80/20 on a lot of properties with minimal cash flow from each.Thanks for your responses.Dale.

Looking back, the VA loans were useful to get the properties, great leverage and interest rates for the properties, but as we've seen, very low cash flow.