Real estate is a lucrative but equally sensitive sector. I think it is important to have a good plan. If you're going to do something, make sure you know what the hell you're doing. Don't just dive in and get lost in the details—make sure you have some sort of direction and an idea of how you want things to go.
Ask questions. If something doesn't make sense, ask about it! Don't let that question sit in your head until it drives you crazy; just ask someone who knows more than you do about it. That way, they can help fill in any gaps in your knowledge so that when problems come up, they don't seem like such an insurmountable obstacle.
Research your options. Researching is important for a lot of things, but especially for real estate. Get familiar with all your options before you decide on one and stick with it! If there's something better out there later on down the road, then great.