When To Call Yourself a Real Estate Investor?

[Curt Davis]

I notice many new people on the forums calling themselves a real estate investor but they also state they have never done a transaction of any sort. Now I am one who believes in thinking positive and seeing yourself doing things even before you do them but should one call themselves a Real Estate Investor if they have never done any type of transaction?
Thoughts anyone?

[David Wedemire]

Regardless of the IRS rules, you are a real estate investor when you can tell everyone you are with a straight face ;)