@Troy Fisher - Yeah, I fully expect to make lots of mistakes starting out, but I don't have any need to rush into this, so I want to study the field for at least another month or so before plunging in.

So many questions being a rookie to this that i want to make sure i don't make a gigantic mistake.

or "You didn't need to go to college at all, own up to your mistakes."

@Mohit Madaan one of the biggest mistakes I see people starting off make is choosing a market because they like to visit the area or have family or friends that live there.

I think your 30K in saving would vanish very quickly if you lived of it or made a mistake when investing.

My typical partner is mid 30's  wife  2 to 4 kids and is working very hard to get were they want to be... not spending hours on real estate chat sites.. my biggest players really don't even know about this site or if they do never come here.. as I state they are too busy making money and providing for their families.But one thing is for certain there are many very capable and well established investor on this site.... make no mistake about that.

I spent a year and over $250,000 (down payment, renovations, and furnishings) on this two-bedroom condo outside of Washington DC, so I'll report back if it turns out to be a mistake.

Consequences for the inevitable mistakes are more severe.  

I know that was my biggest, dumbest mistake, but she was a "friend." 

@Esaul Viramontes, I'm glad your desperation didn't lead you to a big mistake.