They only lift the bag high into the air when they drop it into their truck.It probably depends on how skilled the truck driver / crane operator is.

Underwriting is a skill I've spent a lot of time learning and perfecting. 

I never understood...well until I bought a guitar and learned the process/skill.

These skills will certainly help but...I’m thinking about going back to school to become a certified electrician or for HVAC but I’m not sure which would be more beneficial?

It is an unchartered territory where law, people skills count.

This is a budget I can work with for now, learn a few more things in this deal and hone my skills. 

If you manage/landlord your own property, you need skills in landlording.

I'm currently interested in East Bay (Alameda & Contra Costa) as well as Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, Solano and Sacramento counties.As an absolute beginner (this is my very first post) and currently working a full-time job (unrelated to RE), my main objective is to learn different REI skills hands-on.What I bring to the table:1) Funds - possibly for 10% to 25% of down payment (widely depending on deal/rehab costs, of course)2) Hustle - evenings and weekends could be 100% dedicated to REI (finding/analyzing deals, meetups, cold calling, drafting/reviewing, whatever I can help with)I would love to learn at least one of these skills:1) Finding off-market deals2) Estimating rehab costs3) Managing contractors4) Managing tenants5) Negotiating dealsI'm hoping someday I'd be able to add value beyond funds and be part of a great REI team :)If you're interested in connecting, please let me know.Best,JC

Living for a year or more in your first investment property will help you acquire the skills you'll need later in life: managing real estate properties, managing contractors, finding tenants, etc.

Investing out of area is no rocket science but it does require set of skills and systems to follow.