For a beginner,  investing holds the lure of big profits. After all, if you may believe the tales told by those who made it big in real estate speak of immeasurable riches that are yours for the taking. If it were that easy, however, then why would not more people simply work on getting started in real estate investing? The truth – as is the case so frequently – is somewhere in the middle: yes, there is a lot of money that may be made, and yes, there are a lot of pitfalls that lurk along the way which may cost you the profits you have already made, even if the ultimate prize is within close reach!Consider the followings facts beginning real estate investing aficionados need to understand:Investing is a Dicey Proposition.  For a beginner, real estate investing is a dicey proposition with respect to finding the right location. Many neighborhoods are on the move – either up-and-coming, or in the alternative experiencing a middle class flight. Both hold their unique challenges, and both have the potential for profit, although it is the former that holds the true promise.Find a neighborhood moving in the right direction Finding a neighborhood moving in the right direction is tricky: if it is obvious that a neighborhood is attracting investor, you can bet on having a lot of competition and thus paying a lot more for your investment properties; if it is not so obvious, then perhaps you are either getting in on the ground floor, or you are misjudging a situation that in effect could turn the other way.Have cash ready for investing Beginning real estate investing on a shoestring budget is somewhat of an abnormality and although some claim to have done so, by and large you will need to have access to some ready cash or lines of credit to finance that first investment property.Another hurdle for the beginner: property investing is more than just buying a property, fixing it up and then selling. In many cases a good deal may be had on a multi family investment property. Yet with the lure of steady cash flow also come the downsides of these investments, namely management concerns and special liability issues.As you can see, beginning  investing is a path fraught with peril. You will be wise to avoid learning the hard way by trial and costly error, and instead opt to get trained by experts in the field, or hire a real estate investment coach to help you through your first transactions.Similarly, as a beginning real estate investor you should learn the lingo used in the world of real estate, join real estate investment groups, or invest time and effort and attend the real estate investment training seminars which are frequently offered in your area.Beginning property investing is not for amateurs, no matter how many books on real estate and marketing they may have read. Unless you have money to burn, going it alone in the beginning is never a smart choice!