Plan your down payment carefully, factoring in closing costs and potential renovations.

*Most* of the time it is better to start off investing someplace you know intimately than picking cities out of a hat based on statistics you read on a screen. 

I recommend reading “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing: How to Buy, Rehab, and Manage Out-of-State Rental Properties” - I found it to be very helpful when I got started investing 2.5 years ago.

It's great to have you here.Here are some recommendations for you:Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: http://www.biggerpockets.com/m...Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/a...Read Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/r...Check out BP Money Podcast: https://www.biggerpockets.com/..Wishing you the best!

If you read my post above you'll note that I never said to take advantage of anyone.

I don’t usually care when they end.

My advice would be to read the Bigger Pockets’ book First to a Million (and the workbook).

Furthermore, be careful what you ask for.

You should find an expert to work with (after careful screening!). 

Be careful especially if you're new to that.