I am very knowledgeable about my local area and have done well in the past.

I have to stay in Texas / Oklahoma as I have my professional license in those two states.

The main and long term goal is to become a real estate investor, but obviously you need to have capital and knowledge about what you're investing into before you start.

Overall I would stay north of I-30. 

We are looking to finance the purchase with an FHA loan and stay within a one-hour commute to Manhattan.I have been searching for good deals on Zillow and Trulia as well as talking with a few different brokers.

Ultimately, I'd like to get to the point with investing where I don't need to have a full-time corporate job.I look forward to meeting people on here and gaining the knowledge to become a very successful investor. 

In pretty much any case you can join a REIA with no experience,  I would definitely look at it due to the knowledge that others have, attending one has helped me a ton. 

Feel free to jump in the community here and also take advantage of the treasure of knowledge here.

Duplex will never stay occupied on both sides long enough to be the investment you thought it would be on paper. 

First, she completed the application, when I told them I needed him to do so (she is a stay at home Mom) because he was the sole employed in the family.