@Gerald Harris and @Daniel Ringwald, thank you for spending the time to respond.

Mind you, me and most of my friends are in the construction industry and a lot of our answers were similar to,"Spend a couple hundred in some tools, buy a cheap (~$500) car/truck and find the nearest job site."

I'm not planning on making the same mistakes twice---especially when there are so many new ones to make (hopefully not--that's why I'd like to meet other investors who are learning what to do, as well as what not to do).When you get to town, spend some time with your beautiful baby boy and get to know him--and take you wonderful and patient wife out for a nice dinner.

Unfortunately, my current career is in a related field; spending a lot of time in unpleasant places.

I have been working in the corporate world for 10+ years.I have a desire to own my own business and create a lifestyle where I can spend more time with my family while still working hard.

I have been spending weekends out looking at open houses to meet people in the business.

@John Weidner ...I'm from Des Plaines and spend a ton of time in the city!

Estimated Income and Expense:Rental Income:1st Floor 2 beds with finished basement and extended kitchen 1,300.002nd Floor 2 beds 1,100.001 Car Garage 125.00 Monthly Income $ 2,525.00 Yearly Income: $ 30,300.00 Yearly Expenses: Real Estate Taxes $ 8, 187.00 (these taxes can and should be appealed for a lower Assessment an estimated lower assessment should be about 300,000.00 which would reduce the annual taxes to $ 6,768.00.)Homeowners Insurance 1,200.00 TOTAL YEARLY EXPENSES: $ 9,387.00The water and sewer will have to be divided between the 2 apartments, the gas and electric are already separated.

I'd recommend spending some time learning the good vs. bad areas, but Tacoma is awesome cause it's super big but lower prices still so it's not impossible to get in (like Seattle can be.)

The day we evicted with the crew she had a ton of crap upstairs almost wall to wall.So on the low side you could spend 150 to 200 for filing, writ, and eviction crew but also by waiting until the day Marshall throws them out you could lose one to two months rent.