Talked to several people and have decided this would not be a great idea for a first investment.  

There are a lot of these coming about now due to people having such a low interest rate.

Start saving money, work on your credit score, get approval for loans ahead of time, and meet and talk to local real estate sellers, other investors, and people who manage properties.

PenFed FCU, TD Bank and US Bank are my best recommendations.I've gleaned these lenders from the kind people on BP.

If you're youngish and like a location and the "vibe" of a property, you'll find other youngish people who like the same thing and want to rent from you.Our house-hacking clients in Denver and Colorado Springs have clients across the spectrum -- students, single parents, professionals, blue-collar and white-collar workers.

You can also get an idea of what people are getting paid for buyouts in SF on this webpage: http://sfrb.org/annual-buyout-reportsIf you already filed w/ the city and told them the dollar amount that you paid each tenant then I think it is too late, but if you only filed the first filing (which is just to let them know that you're having buyout discussions, that may still be an option).

To get renters, get the home ready, set rent that's fair, put ads online, check people who want to rent by using a form, look into their past, and call their old landlords and jobs.

What kind of resources, websites, or people should I start talking to so I can understand how to buy a home? 

Hello everyone,I'm in need of some assistance finding a reliable property management company in St.

Most of the facebook groups are spammers or people with no clue on real estate and they drown out a lot of the good discussions - if you are in a FB group and its public, most are waste of time unless it is strictly monitored.