You can Join your local REIA, Network, Joint Venture with others, If you know family & friends willing to use some of their IRA/401K.You've mentioned "reading" peoples post have you listened to the Podcasts here..they cover everything about REI and they last about 1 hour give or take a few minutes.For your personal life I would urge you to pursue improving your credit.

@Joseph TaralloCreative Financing has to do with acquiring properties withSub2Lease Purchase and Lease OptionsLand ContractsWrap Around MortgagesContracts for SalePrivate 1st Mortgages - Private IRA LoansInstallment Sale Purchases on Free and Clear HousesYou can make money for solving problems for home sellers usingJoint Ventures with Home SellersLease Option AssignmentsDon't Be a One Trick PonyBe a Transaction Engineer

You can't really control that they clean it to *your* standards.

Anyway I am planning to wholesale, then once I get comfortable with that, moving on to more profitable ventures.  

Master lease options are great ways to control property, but I don't think I would use that method if I were going to be investing significant time and $ into a place.  

I guess I'm here to learn some more and maybe develop some joint venture relationship's.Steve

Good food and drinks, nice atmosphere.I don't venture to the west side a ton, but I can tell you that Lakewood and Detroit Shoreway are both popular areas.

Obtained my RE license so I can control and be first to good deals.

Already starting to see some success in my mobile homes venture.

I am an investor and rehabber, I have personal investments in residential, but I currently work and have worked in corporate America for 10+ years in commercial real estate (I am currently the Controller for a pretty well known Brokerage/Property Management/Insurance group in Pensacola) and I love my "day job", but rehabbing commercials properties is where I am headed.