@Charles PerkinsI am a fan of the slow and steady systematic step by step path to investing success.Many of the gurus say Go Big or Go Home.I say if you are a beginner skier - do you go to the top of the mountain and jump off a cliff going down a black double diamond slope?

Your off market deals and wholesalers are on there.

Novice here, I've been looking into off-market deals but don't feel comfortable moving forward by myself.

The cruise is free (gaming cross promotion) yet I had to pay taxes and port fees. 

We planned to have it paid off in a year and a half.

HI Joseph,You can always start off by house hacking meaning you live in one UNIT or ROOM and renting out the other vacant units/rooms to offset your monthly mortgage payment.There are several ways to run and make sure you are maximizing your rental income while keeping your living expense as low as possible.

First off, talk to your network—family, friends, or potential private lenders who might be on board with your vision.

However, these brackets are frequently pulled off by guests, leading to high maintenance costs.

I am using an off market property database software but it isn't consistent bc this type of asset is classified differently by county. 

Building off of what we discussed so others who are perusing the forums can also see.