Getting a property in you name and renting it out isn't really understanding the functions and principles of real estate.Driving a truck across a pasture doesn't make an auto-cross champion, spending 20 years sailing a Sunfish doesn't make one an accomplished sailor. 

@Geoffrey Jones the green gate property is not worth the 200k.

Cross reference to see if they are the foreclosure list?  

@Justin Green Seems like a self-directed IRA is a solid way to go.

I am assuming they are okay with rehab costs since they showed the house, but nonetheless I will cross check if it is going to be an issue.

It's just green pieces of paper.I would agree that if you like manual labor, it would be wiser to find a hobby or create a need that is more fun and maybe less time focused (i.e. it doesn't have to be done today or else).Maybe I just read this wrong, but a lot of posts seem to be about money and not about the ultimate goal: your own happiness.BTW, it says you live in Washington.. doesn't it rain there all the time?

This helps eliminates biases, and gives you multiple angles on the information you're looking at and verifying.Also, keep in mind that all information can be cross checked and/or verified through third-party sources such as websites, property managers, invoices, MLS, scope-of-work, leased, etc.

I am young and green, but the more I read about real estate investment, the more appealing it becomes to me.

And think long and hard, he warned the class, before crossing the $500 threshold.

Does anyone have an example or excel template for green development?