As important as it is to find a good school, I think the most important factor is finding an energetic/lively instructor since the real-estate curriculum can get very dry and boring.

Keep a healthy cash reserve (at least $10k) in case of issues, add to this with your excess cash flow, and you’ll be fine.

I agree Alex, and that is why it is not a cut and dry interest rates rise = lower prices.

If you want to live in the cheapest rent area, look for 4-plex, but once you are there, you don’t want to live there...Gangster, drugs, robbery, break-in...Bikes all the over the places, clothes hanging on the patio for sun drying, very messy look... neighborhood are extremely run down, doesn’t look good at all...After looking at the run down and very ugly 4-plex area, most investors don’t have the appetite to invest there at all...Sorry for the negative comments...But it is the truth feeling...

It works best if YOU charge a 5% surcharge for maintenance, hold it, then release it only for the repairs on your list, with the excess not spent at close of escrow going to the new owner. 

You COULD end up with a distribution in excess of basis.

Young, college debt, average credit, commission income with small salary, bank account dried up from move to new state.I want to house hack a single family home as my first investment.Any tips, suggestions, examples, ANYTHING to help me learn and follow a model of success would be greatly appreciated!!

My excess earned income, net of taxes and all expenses, is > $80k / year.

I write into the lease the right to charge the the tenant for excessive water cost.

Clays shrink as they dry, so in effect thesoil outside the footing settles faster than the soil around the home.