how can you get started in commercial real estate investing with little or no money and bad credit?

Chris....
The best thing you can do is become licensed, work nights if you have to, and serve an apprentiship during the day. Learn to represent others well in their commercial investment decisions. Begin to earn commissions. Don't quit your night job and bank the commissions you earn. Then when you have accumulated enough experience and enough money, magic will happen!
To try to become an commercial real estate investor without money and without experience is a fool's activity and in the run will have you waisting a lot of time and very possibly losing any funds you may have.
Sorry but that is the best answer I can give you from over 35 years experience in this business. Good luck.....
Rob Baird, CA RE License #544165 (One of the oldest, active licenses in CA) 951 515-5855

I have to totally concur with Steve. If you try to invest in real estate with no money and no credit, some shark will find you, tell you what you want to hear, and your next question will be "How can I invest in commercial real estate with less than no money and even worse credit". Don't do it. Learn the ropes as he mentioned and save your sheckels. One day you will know when you are really ready. Then all the time you waited and built up your groundwork will pay off.

You have to learn before you earn Chris. I've been in CRE since 04' and am still learning while earning a decent no frills income commensurate to my knowledge and experience. The most prominent theme I've noticed in this industry is that the truely successful investors are often seasoned veterans who have been around for a while, sometimes generations, and who have survived the ups and downs of multiple cycles. You aren't going to accumulate wealth overnight, and anyone promising you just that, will surely be gone the next morning.

All these gentlmen are absolutely right you can only build wealth over time just think of investments as a lost savings account. when the property is paid off the flows of income will come in and the more properties you can accumulate that generate a stream of income the more wealth you will have in the end. A wise man once said to me "invest in bricks"

Find Partners with the Credit, and or the Money to invest, Go find the Deals and look for partners. Greg Collins 224-542-8930

It is possible to get started in commercial real estate investing with no money and bad credit but you have to have something to bring to the table. If you have the knowledge and the ability to manage the assets, then it is possible to find partners with the capital and credit. Do you have connections to people and investors with the funds and credit to purchase the types of properties you're wanting? Can you convince them that you're the right person for the job? This route is the hardest way to go but it can be done. On the other hand, if you don't have the experience or connections, then like everyone else said, start working in the industry and gain all the resources you will need.