Also there are people today partnering with people that have money to share the profits and many aren't putting money down.

An HOA will be a troublesome partner.

I know this is broad and I'm trying to do everything I can in the next year to educate myself and make sure I am ready to invest, weather that means taking classes, getting some hands on experience or partnering with someone for my first deal using my funds and giving them a percentage of the proceeds.

You may be able to partner with them.You can find investors in the courthouse records, look through the records and you'll see names of buyers and sellers, they will be dealers in the business.

Partner up with someone local who really knows the area, then you don't have to become an expert in the area, just an expert in your business partner

I am an owner/partner at a technology firm in Eastern Massachusetts and I am looking to break into real estate investing.

Yep, just like Joel Owens said.I had a potential partner who wouldn't sign a non-disclosure, and there's where our business relationship ended.

disclosure disclosure disclosure.my brokerage limits the number of my own 100% commission deals.I think if you have a partner one should have license, and the other not (to do off the market deals easier)that's my 2 cents

.* I do not know anything about how to evaluate real estate values (but I think I can learn), or the costs of renovation.All that said, I believe that I could be successful in scouring near and far for properties with equity that could be purchased or optioned at attractive prices IF I can partner up with investors with cash and with individuals who know how to renovate cost effectively.

I know this opens up the world of partners and other types of creative financing.In the end, I wonder what everyone else out there in So-Cal is finding success with at the moment (without giving away any of their secrets of course!).