Given my background, I’ve negotiated literally hundreds of contracts and deals by following 5 basic steps. 

After finding biggerpockets.com and reading about everyone's else's trials and tribulations I have decided to take my first step, I am joining this community of like minded individuals and excited to learn a lot.

Now I'm making my final preparations to fully commit and make the big plunge.This is the next step in that process.

My next step would be to get the best contractor(s) that I could into the place to begin to get cost estimates to the extent possible on the problem areas and follow up inspections by certified pros on the roof, termites, chimney, and other areas...

If we take a step back and look at appreciation historically, IE over the last 20 years here is what you see. 

The economic value of most homes runs about 50 years, during you last "step up" if that was a 15, 20 year old home and you retire to the hold idea, you'll have 30 to 35 years of income, perhaps longer depending on the "class act" property you selected.

I buy foreclosures on the court steps.

step-by-step please and thank you!

This process includes several steps, the first being a neighborhood community meeting and vote.

I don't have a ton of money, but I'm hoping to take my first step into getting started within a couple of months.