One of my goals is to invest in rental properties. I'm looking at mostly duplexes and fourplexes. I am really looking into something that I can hopefully start building equity. The problem is it seems impossible to me when I look into the reality of it.

Here's my problem, I have no money to put down on anything. I have some credit debt but it's less than 6k. My credit rating is about 670 on avg and I rent, I do not own a house.

Now I am also married and my wifes credit debt is larger than mine, so after our marraige combined we have a pretty big debt (probably around 16K).

I work in the construction/maintenance business where getting paid is not always something that happens. I am owed a lot of back pay so my bank statements are mostly under 1k on avg.

I really want to do this but I feel like I'm tied down. Is there any hope for a guy like me to break into investing in real estate?

If so then where do I start? If not then where do I start?!?

"I work in the construction/maintenance business where getting paid is not always something that happens. I am owed a lot of back pay so my bank statements are mostly under 1k on avg."

I would get out of that line of business.Alot of this zero down stuff was written before the subprime meltdown,higher credit requirements,and less financing out there.

Generally I can find deals at 5 to 10 percent down with owner financing but not 100 percent. If you don't perform and they foreclose they will be out money so you have to bring some value to the table for them to do a deal.

In your situation I would go to work for an investor making a salary and learnign this business.Put away a certain percentage so later on you can start your own deals. You can also partner and do the labor side of the deal in return for a percentage of the profit. Just never beleive anything verbal and get everything in writing and run it by an attorney.

Your score of 670 isn't bad but 100 percent investor loans do not exist anymore. They want to see reserves,steady verifiable income, and time on the job.

"I would get out of that line of business"

I'm sick of dealing with it, that's why I decided to get into real estate, get my license and become an agent. The problem is I know I won't start making money out of the gate. I need the job I have now because it allows 100% flexibility. If I get another job and have to work 9-5 then I'll have no time to put into real estate.

In a perfect world I would have rental income to keep me alive and be able to pay bills while I spend 50+ hours a week being an agent. Unfortunately no world is perfect.

Being a REALTOR is completely different from being an investor - both can easily become full time (and more) careers.

Super's suggestion was perfect - to expand on it - don't get started in real estate if you've only got $1,000 in the bank and no steady income!

Go to work for an investory on a full-time basis if possible and learn the ropes. Scale down your monthly expenses so that you can afford to put some cash away to put towards your own investment, and you'll be fine... but if you try and do that while you're also trying to start up a real estate career you'll end up very far in debt with absolutely nothing to show for it.

ONE THING AT A TIME...and again - you absolutely do NOT want to start a real estate career with only $1,000 in the bank at any given time...you're asking for problems...