1. Real estate investing is for wealthy. Money helps, but my first real estate investment was a $3,500 lot - which I sold for a profit two weeks after I bought it. Small deals, partners, low-down deals, or just putting aside $7 per day for a couple years until you have enough money for a downpayment - these are some of ways to start with a little and invest in real estate.

2. "0 down" isn't possible. I sold a rental property for $1,000 down because I trusted buyer to make payments, and I wanted 9% interest and higher price. He could have gotten a cash-advance on a credit card for another $30 per month and made it a "0-down" deal. "No money down" means none of YOUR money down, and yes, it happens.

3. "0 down" is best way. If you don't invest some of your own money, you'll have higher payments. You'll also spend more time finding suitable properties, and pay more for them (generally cooperative sellers want more for their cooperation - I do). There are 0-down deals out there - they just aren't always worth doing.

It's one of most expensive loans we can take out, so why do so many people have credit card balances that they don't pay off each month? Perhaps it's because application form comes in mail, and we can just fill it out, mail it back and expect to get a new shiny card within a few weeks... especially if we're "pre approved". It's also very handy to have credit cards because they're so quick and simple to use to make purchases. Just hand card over, swipe and sign (or input your pin on newer cards). On top of that, there are dozens of introductory offers on new cards, with lower interest rates than all your current cards. Surely you'd be crazy not to accept their offer of a great new card at a great new rate? Ahh yes, but that low rate soon reverts back to same rate as all other cards you have... but now you have one more card to rack up debt on!