Start with a consistant form of income. Save save save and gain credit through paying off small loans and credit cards. Failure to pay off credit cards each month will destroy your plan. Within a small amount of time, possibly as little as 3 years, you will be ready to chat with a real estate agent about properties to purchase. Plan on needing $10,000 for a down payment to get a good program and a good rate; it takes money to make money. You will want to buy a 3 or 4 unit building, live in one unit and rent the others. Maintain a decent building and save save save until you have enough to go to the real estate agent and purchase another home. The downpayment for the second building can be as little as $10,000 and if you are lucky you can get creative with the finacing and possibly invest with less money as the banks will see you have been prudent with your money and of course make all your house payments. Your lake front home and Ferrari are a few years away. Be consistant with your payments and do not use credit cards more than an amount of money you are prepared to pay off at the end of the month. Remember that as a rule, automobiles are one of the worst investments you can make except in extreme cases so no new cars and trucks; get by with what you have. Continue this process and make extra payments on your properties every chance you get to get them paid off and you will see your net worth take off. If you are prudent enough then in about 20 years you will be worth a million dollars. Remember that some of the richest people do not dress like it or drive like it so don't get the cart before the horse.