I would get property radar right off the bat though.and remember you have to follow about 25 to 50 homes to buy one.. can't get lazer focused on one as you never know which one will actually go to sale.

I like the maxim "Focus on doing the right things, THEN focus on doing them right."

Hello, BiggerPockets.I'm new to the Houston area and am hoping to connect with others that are focused on small apartment investing (less than 30 or so units).

SCREENING YOUR TENANTS When they come to the Open House I screen them further, and here is where I really focus on body language.

Looking around for real estate in central Maryland I'm finding some weird stuff of people posting about duplex's for sale but seemingly only focusing on one side of the property and never implying or mentioning the second side.

I coach on the weekends and afternoons of the week.I'm just confused on how to get started and what to focus on as a first step.If you were in my situation, what would you do? 

Your example is 101,750 a year cash flow over the 20 year period you mentioned....and as I noted you are basically eating your principal all that time and have little left when you sell at that point....NNN leases are out.From your example:"$2,035,000 Accumulated Cash Flow (NOI)If you put that same "seed" money into the stock market...or almost any other investment, that money is "parked" there the same way.However, if you used that same $2M as a 20% DP on a NNN worth $10M, with a minimum of a 6 CAP (I know, you want higher, I just focusing on the minimum you want) you would have a debt service of around $560k/year...which would get you your $30k.  

@Steven Hamilton II @Linda Weygant @Jake Hottenrott @Brandon Hall I would focus on finding one person you really click with. 

I feel this is the only way I can get in the game and become an asset holder.I still don't know what kind of property I want to focus on.  

@Andrew McManamon - as a new real estate agent you need to be focused on your sphere first.