I make sure I screen each potential tenant thoroughly (background and credit checks) and require references.

Do not fall for the "its easy" responses from people and you can wave a magic wand and go out and invest in real estate (you can but will you make money).

An easy flip at 7-10% return might be more lucrative than a larger project that takes longer and more chances for cost over runs. 

Thank you for taking the time to respond.Your strat is pretty straightforward and easy to understand for a beginner.

@Chris Mahoo many new investors don't take the time to properly understand RE investing.1) Many are using approaches from 2010-2018 when Class A property prices were so low from the Great RE Crash that an investor could cashflow and get pretty easy Class A tenants to manage.2) If you look at what investors were doing before 2008-2010, most were buying Class B & C rentals.To make it worth while, an investor either needs to Fix & Flip or invest & hold rentals for 10+ years.- Over a 10 year period cashflow will increase as rents increase (rents typically rise faster than property taxes, insurance, etc.)- The property should be appreciating, if purchased in a good location, increasing the owner's equity/wealth.- Rents will be paying the mortgage off, increasing the owner's equity/wealth.- If you hold a rental until death, you can pass it on with a stepped-up cost basis, limiting captial gains if then sold (limited by inheritance tax limitations).Too many newbies on this site trying to replace their day job income via "passive" real estate investing w/o digging deep enough to understand how it really works.

I honestly feel bad saying that because anyone that has saved up $25K to invest should be darn proud of what they have accomplished as that's no easy feat. 

If you find a PM that you like, ask if they have any Realtors they could refer you to that work closely with them.

And easy for us to fulfill 1031 exchanges now. 

Do you check Landlord references?

It was easy to sign up with Square.