Invest now or wait for more certainty?

[Darwin Disla]

I'm 26, live in an apartment with my girlfriend, 2 dogs, 1 cat, no kids. I have a decent paying job, with a fairly flexible schedule and I've been interested in using my free time effectively and learning about real estate. I don't know much right now, but I've been learning through this site and the podcast. I have about 5k saved up and 12k in an IRA. I recently moved to Kansas City, MO from Miami, FL. The prices for homes here in MO are so much better than FL, but we miss our family back home and are considering moving back. I put in a transfer request at work to go to the Tampa, FL office so I can be closer to family. It hasn't been reviewed yet and there's no guarantee they will even approve it. So should I purchase a home here in MO or wait until I know if I will be transferring to FL?

Bonus question -  would it be difficult to house hack with all my pets?

[Geordy Rostad]

@Darwin Disla

Educate yourself! Pick at least 6 of the books in the bigger pockets bookstore for starters. I like:

1) BRRRR

2) Note investing

3) long distance investing

4) finding and funding great deals

5) the book on rental property investing

6) raising private capital

Next, attend some local real estate investor meetups. Check out meetup.com and the Bigger Pockets events section.

You can have as many pets as you want if you house hack. It's your house after all. But you might be better to do that sort of thing in a 2-4u. If I could go back and tell my 20 year old self something I would say "Buy a 4plex, stupid".