Check out this study if you have time although I'm sure a Birmingham native has just as much insight as this study. 

For the state section not so much, I'd study the state stuff thoroughly from the book.

Im new to real estate investing but I have been studying it for a little over two years now.

I have been doing some studying and research so I can make minimal mistakes but now I believe the time is now.

I have been studying the Chicago area for 4 months now. 

If you study finance, you will see you can substantially boost your turns by borrowing at a cheaper WACC (weighted cost of capital).

I have studied the recommendations segment in it ...

I've been studying and researching REI for over a year now , and I feel that now is the time for me to make the leap.

there is a downside sandwich lease options, you should have some financial reserves in case the tenant buyer doesn't pay youSo three months reserves should do itAlso in Texas sandwiches are not a good idea due to the current lawI would study to start, lease options and lease purchase, wraparound mortgages, installment land contracts, private lending through IRAs, and joint venture partnering to get down payment money and rehab moneyWholesaling takes a lot of time and a lot of money for Marketing, you can find pretty houses with no equity through expired listings, long days on the market listings, canceled listings, do it yourself landlords, eviction notices, for sale by owner's, and wholesalers that throw leads away of no equity pretty housesGood luck @Tori Hall !

I have been in contact with MemphisInvest and have been studying on BiggerPockers for the last month to increase my knowledge base and find out what aspects, questions, and numbers are the most critical for investing for "passive income" with my self directed IRA.