Picking up the property in distress and fixing it up offers an opportunity to get some, most, or all of your capital back at the refi table.Here is a very simple deal to play out how it works. 

Since you are just graduating college you may already realize that it's not what you know, but who you know (as a personal note, I had college friends that were barely passing their classes however they ended up with really good paying jobs due to "who they knew").

I have the opportunity to buy a distressed property 3 blocks from the beach in the Torrance area.   

I think I would really like being a real estate agent and recently I applied for a real estate agent assistant job, to learn and get more experience!

I got laid off from my job and have been unemployed.

Today, I want to take this opportunity to ​clarify some things and share what is going to change.Under the current compensation model, a seller typically pays a commission of 5% or 6% to their listing agent.

Networking with other investors can provide valuable insights and opportunities.

Self performing can reduce your costs which may help your initiative but you have to weigh the time that goes into the rehab against lost production at your W2 job. 

I am thinking of taking a job out of state and during that time I would like to rent out my primary residence which is a one bedroom townhouse in Buckhead/Atlanta.

Secondly, "My 2 main interests in real estate are flipping and short term vacation rentals" - these strategies are full time jobs.