Methods for first deal with little capital???

[Christopher Smith]

As a newer investor with little capital, I’m trying to understand an effective method to start investing. My goal and vision is to invest in distressed properties that needs repairs and hold them for passive income. I have watched videos, listened to podcast after podcast, read countless books, and understand the language and strategies of real estate investing, but I would just like to here from someone more knowledgeable and successful than I. I just have a few concerns.

Is it a good idea to wholesale a few properties to build capital to invest in the buy and hold properties???

Should someone with little capital use a hard money lender to get started and will they even work with new investors???