In any business there is going to be risk. It is a part of all industries. The essential elements for minimizing the risk and achieving success is use experience to analyze current trends and seize opportunities. There is always a fear of failure and losing money, it is natural. This fear stops most from taking the risk and realizing the rewards. 
There is always financial risk in any venture. You must conduct the research necessary to minimize that risk and move forward. Managing the risk for real estate investing is a process of analyzing and heeding the advice of those that have been successful in the past and using those practical steps to realize your goals.
The first and most common mistake that new real estate investors make is to quit their day jobs for real estate investment. As the saying goes, when your just starting out don’t quit your day job. Show some patience and after a period of time assess how your investments are doing. Don’t be in a hurry to leave your steady employment with a quick decision to enter a much less secure world of real estate investing. Hope for the best while preparing for the worst.
Some solid advice for entry into the real estate investment market is to have a mentor. Pick someone that you trust with an established and successful track record in the industry. If there is a fee involved it will be more than worth it for the guidance from an expert. He or she will also be more in touch with the local real estate market and its trends.
Use the mentor’s advice to form your initial strategy and business plan. 
There are many tax implications that need to be addressed and they are state specific. You should have a local, professional accountant to guide you through the tax laws.
Make sure that as a new investor that you avoid over spending. You want to make sure that you are covered once the deal is closed. Don’t commit to unnecessary expenses, repairs or improvements to the property.
Only make investments after doing thorough research for the area market trends that affect the appreciation or depreciation of real estate in the area. You should go out of your way to establish a network of partnerships with people and businesses that you can trust. 

With due diligence and sound investing principals you could one day achieve your goal of millions.