Good luck saving for you next investment, however, if you understand creative financing you could be controlling real estate now without the need for saving for a down payment.

You can buy properties from some distressed or not distressed seller, or you can help them list it for sale if they won't take the cash offer, or financing or whatver creative way you offer to purchase.  

From there, I started wholesaling and marketing creative real estate solutions to property owners.

I would recommend attending the local real estate networking events such as the San Diego Creative Investor Association (SDCIA), North County Real Estate Investor Association, and FIBI - Del Mar (google for details). 

Be creative. 

@Roy N. and @Matthew Paul --- aboslutely, a great business model and very creative.  

There are several strategies to be doing this like using hard money and refinancing, using creative financing or bringing in a partner for the down payments. 

Artists love to live together to inspire each other's creativity.

Just creative thinking here.  

However as a back up option I can also try to list them with my brokerage if they really aren't that motivated or not in a situation for creative financing.