First post and long time listener.

Spend the first few deals just listening and asking questions.

I've been reading books and listening to various BP podcasts nonstop for the past couple months, but I'd love to hear thoughts about the right strategy for turning our war chest into a sound real estate portfolio (preferably before I'm too old to enjoy the fruits of our labor!).

When the smoooooooth talking salesman calls you after you listen to the podcast with all the pitch perfect questions I say SCAM.  

If your gut is casting doubt on it, you need to listen - even if you can make mathematical sense of it.

Thank you that makes a lot of sense lol I was literally just listening to a podcast about this.

To have a successful STR I HIGHLY recommend listening to this episode of a podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-market/id161508...Once you listen to this, and any highly involved STR operator will agree, you will find a lot of the fundamentals are lacking in Kissimmee or you have to have deep pockets to hit those.I won't spoil the episode, but if you listen to it (and anyone out there that does) feel free to DM me afterward and I'd be happy to talk details tailored to your situation on if you're on the right path or maybe I can help.

Listen to your friend.

Ricardo, welcome to BP, this is a fantastic starting point in your investing career, I have been a podcast listener since 2011 and have learned an incredible amount. 

Quote from @Benjamin Bieber: Listening to the Bigger Pockets podcasts I hear the ads for rent to retirement all the time.