Hi All!  I just joined BiggerPockets and am finding so much amazing info here.  The problem is... I still have no clue what I'm doing.  Haha!  I don't know if I should buy properties in bad shape, fix them up and rent them, airb&B them, flip them... Where to start?  And I know there are so many ways to finance, but I have no idea what is right for what I am trying to do.  

I have a daughter at TTU in Lubbock and started out just wanting to get a cute little place for her and my other daughter, who will also be there soon.  It's hard to find a cheap cute little house in that area that is fixed up already.  You can find some that are not fixed up, but they are selling at the same price as the one across the street that has been remodeled.  

So, of course, my mind goes right to investing.  We get an AirB&B every time we go up there... I have found some really inexpensive homes in decent areas, well under $100K, that I could put some money into and buy a few, hold one for my girls, and rent or AirB&B the others.  There is a possibility to make a little money if I flipped one, but the amount of work they need will probably not make much of a profit when you try to sell bc none of the other homes in the area are really updated. 

Another problem is that I still need at least $200K fast.  There are so many options... I have no clue which is best.  Also, I am in the Austin area, so trying to do this from afar.  I have a great realtor, but I have heard finding an honorable contractor in the area is not an easy task.  I would LOVE it if I could talk to someone who could help me realistically analyze a few of these deals and tell me if they are even worth pursuing.  I am researching and reading, but I wish I had someone to guide me and help analyze on this first purchase because I truly have no clue what I am getting into.  Haha!  Looking at keeping the homes and not looking at the short-term return, maybe they look great, but if I look at what I can make now, not so much, but I am looking to hold on to them, so do I even need to consider what the other homes are selling for now?  Or does it make more sense to look at how much they are renting for?   My brain hurts.  Sorry for the long email and vent session.  If anyone has any advice, I am all ears.  :-)