As a new investor, I am doing this part time while I am finishing graduate school and working a job. I have aligned myself with a few full time investors who are guiding me in the realm of wholesaling, marketing, and eventually purchasing my first buy and hold investment. I am absorbing a lot, and get to see the benefits and freedoms that real estate can provide. I also still enjoy the consistency of a full-time paycheck while I learn. However, when it comes to leads, sales, marketing, and things of the like...My partner, a full time investor, manages to kill me at every turn. I'll find a lead, he's seen it twice. I'll call a buyer, he's conversed with him already. However, what happens is that at the end of the day...I realize there are pros and cons to both of our approaches as relatively new investors. And that really your choice in real estate investing....boils down to how you feel about risk. I am not averse to risk. But as it stands now, I don't have the fortitude to up and quit my job and pursue this full time yet. My partner however, has that fortitude and dove right in to pursue his dream. We both made around the same amount of income this year, but what was truly gained was individual happiness and experience. For me, it was learning about new ways to add income to myself and provide a better life for my family. For him, it was about the freedom to get back what he puts in. 

I post this only to say that I am learning that there is no "Right" or "Wrong" approach to real estate investing. Even venturing SLIGHTLY outside of your comfort zone sets you apart from the masses. If you are comfortable at your job and would like to invest part time....you are still doing far better than the person who is simply "comfortable at his job". If you are a risk taker and want to dive right in, then you are leaps and bounds ahead of the game and will likely see large amounts of success in the future. 

Happy investing.