Every paycheck (earned income) or other income- take minimum of 10% of the top - automatically if you prefer towards savings or money market account or Bank CD, mutual fund, index fund, ETF , Government treasury bond etc.

She earns enough in her W2 job that if we file jointly it will severely limit (or eliminate completely) what I'm able to expense on my rental properties.

Doing that will only save (or earn) the amount you are avoiding paying on a mortgage, maybe 5%.

forget investing for the moment your whofully undercapitalized.. and you could end up losing whatever you have.if you want in real estate and your working part time now.. get a RE license cost maybe a grand.. so spend that on education.. get in with a top flight broker on their team.. earn while you learn.. then start saving money.. hang with the club that does deals  IE real estate agents.. you will find off market deals before anyone else and you don't have to send or spend money on marketing to get them its all in the club.short of that take your degrees and energy and move to a better work environment.

Additionally, March is not the optimal time of year to list a rental, so advertised rates would not reflect peak season rental rates-- those occur during the summer months when families with school age children can move.

It's not necessarily easy to come across $1,000,000 and place it in property earning you money passively, but that's just one scenario.

That may be the ideal funding tip for your situation: earn it.

PITIA is short for Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance and Association fees.It's NOT the time to buy and hold right now as we are back to the peak home prices before the last bubble. 

Hi All,If anyone in Massachusetts, New Bedford, Fall River, Westport, or Southcoast area is looking to earn a consistent secured return on their money and reallocate towards real estate, please contact me via PM and we can schedule a coffee sit down.

The interest/capital gains you stand to earn is negligible, and you may end up risking your hard earned money if there is a downturn etc.