Step 1: Get a reliable income for a few years.
Step 2: Get a good credit rating to prove that you are creditworthy.
Step 3: Find a good deal on a property (private or wholesale)(these properties typically need some work).
Step 4: Borrow the downpayment from a private lender. Make sure the interest rate is something you can afford. The downpayment will be 5% to 20% of the purchase price for a residential property, and 25% to 35% for a commercial property (5plex or larger).
Step 5: Borrow the rest from a bank (with a mortgage). Banks may want to see where the money came from in Step 4. If they do, then go to another bank. The remaining percentage is called Loan to Value (LTV). This is anywhere between 65% and 95% of the purchase price.
Step 6: Close on the property.
Step 7: Pay back the private lender.
Step 8: Pay off the mortgage.