There is so much more leverage in pooling other people's resources and expertise. 

@Alicia N RagoneseConsider some different paths:Buy an investment property with leverage if you can find a bank/banker that would back you. 

I had to educate the lawyer in this case. 

@Garrath RobinsonWell you're on BiggerPockets, which is undoubtedly one of the best resources/websites, especially for education and networking.

What you'll find is your return is higher when you leverage your money.Here's an example of a property I analyzed recently for another investor:Notice the highest return on my investment is the first year and it diminishes after that.Also notice I have $103,067.64 in equity on year ten.

I am just analyzing this unit for educational purpose. 

Also, I have spent some time educating myself here at Bigger Pockets and via books sold on this site.

I am a new member to the BiggerPockets comunity, and I am incredibly impressed by the wealth of Education and the potential for Real Estate connections. 

You live in one of the most profitable states in the country with far and away the largest GDP and one of the highest housing costs (behind HI and NY) with white collar educated professionals able and willing to pay rent. 

Hard money is probably the most common way flippers leverage to buy a deal, although that requires down payment from you and/or another private investor (usually 10-20% down).