I've been told it's miles of red tape.

@Casey Staidl I think it depends on what type of investing you want to do.I'm assuming your talking about fix-and-flipping because you looking for seasoned flippers to answer your question, and if that's the case (though I'm not the most qualified on the subject) I'd suggest a looking for a partnership.If you can handle the project management side of things and find someone with deep pockets to fund the majority of the expenses and then split profits 50/50, I think that'd be the best leverage you can get. 

(who also commented on this thread) set up a meetup in Red Bank at the library for next Wednesday 5/25/2016 at 6:15pm..

Talk about jumping in the deep end of the pool to learn how to swim!

I have about 200 real estate books, not counting ones I wrote, and about 200 others that I read but gave away.Currently reading:Code Red by John Mauldin & Jonathan TepperThings That Matter by Charles KrauthammerNo Easy Day by Mark OwensThree & Out by John Payne, the Saga of a San Francisco Apartment ManagerCurrency Wars by James RickardsThe Wealthy Speaker by Jane AtkinsonFree Me Forever by Kyle P.

Ideally, you want several employers to spread the risk associated with a dominant industrySupply and DemandCensus.gov under the “Selected Housing Characteristics” tableDetermine by analyzing the five-year rental vacancy rates and median rental rates in the market, as well as the year-on-year change in the number of building permits created for commercial properties (five or more units)The number of five or more unit building permits won’t tell us much on it’s own.However, a huge red flag to you would be when you see an increase in the number of permits in combination with an increasing vacancy rate and/or a decrease in median rentsAs vacancy increases, median rent and new building permits should decrease… and vice versaBest Case:Low or decreasing vacancy rates and increasing median rentsDecent Case:High vacancy rate that is decreasing Stagnant vacancy rateWorst Case:Increasing vacancy rate and/or decreasing median rent An increase in the number of building permits (5+ units) in combination with an increasing vacancy rate and/or a decrease in median rentsMiscellaneousResearch Other Characteristics relevant to the strength or weakness of a marketExamples:Landlord vs. tenant-friendly state?

The guys we know doing this in LA have deep pockets - I don't know how people do it without some serious cash reserves.  

And close to Emeryville, the beautiful younger sister to West Oakland's red-headed step-child status (no offense to red-heads!)

@joseph 70% after repaired Value minus repairs doesn't work for the seller but what might work is a joint venture with a sellerSometimes it's better to talk to the seller directly with the agent and tell them exactly how the real estate investor world works Pencil out a possible solution 70% of ARV minus repairsIf that number is terrible then tell them you would consider doing a joint venture where you would bring in your own money to repair the house and then resell it with the realtor getting a commissionI would bring in a rehabber GC where they could guarantee the repairs on a certain budget and you get private money for that amount of repairsI would charge a fee of 5 to 7% of value for joint venture fee650- 65 costs to sell with commissions and closing costs - 200 in repairs - 32 jv feeSay 350k net to sellerBeats the 291 MAO1 buy w private mortgage no payments for 6 mo2 own it and repair it with private money3 resell it w agent4 pay off note to seller and private money loan@Joseph ChillemiGo Red Sox Nation!

Fear paralyzed us of our dreams and goals, take a deep breath now go forth