BiggerPockets

i am a business student at csun and working. I have also just obtained my california agent license. I want to become a real estate investor, using rental property. Where do i start? I was thinking of working for a commercial property firm? Id rather not have to work for someone though.

Max out your student loans and with the proceeds buy an investment property. Just joking!

"Eventually" may never come.

"Eventually" may be after the market turned and your buying at high prices.

Your young and I know "Eventually" means something to you. But life has a funny way of just happening. School, loans, wife, kids, aging parents etc....

I would rethink "eventually"

In NH you have to work for a broker for a year and complete 6 transactions before you can obtain your brokers license.

Like I said though, you'll need to check your state law.

I think Scott may be saying get after your dreams NOW.

Deep breath Taylor - deep breath.

I gave you some pretty great advice - and it is glass full advice advice - not full of negativity as you so positively put it.

This is what you said - a quote if you will "My final goal though is to just own and manage my own investment properties."

Now - I could be wrong - before my post I have known you for 10 whole sentences - but - from what I read - and from what I read Mr. Green wrote and you appreciated - you clearly seem to want to own real estate - that is where your headed. Your going to school for Biz - your getting a license or two but what you really want to do - what you are really working towards is your final goal - owning and managing your own real estate.

So - here you are getting an education in business. That may or may not have anything to do with owning and managing your own rental properties.

You just got one license (congrats) and may work on another - which again may or may not have anything to do with your final goal of owning and managing real estate.

The one thing that is clear to me (and I suspect to others reading) but may not be clear to you as you are to close and very senstitive on the topic is that the one thing your not working towards is your final goal - owning and managing real estate.

If that is your dream - all I am doing is suggesting the same thing Mr. Green suggested - go for it. Eventually may never come meaning to it now if that is your passion.

If business school and getting another lisc. is your passion then great - however - that isn't what you wrote - your just doing it for the knowledge - what you REALLY want is to own and mange real estate.

Lastly - where did I tell you something was impossible? Where did I imply you should give up? I clearly hit some hot button of yours cuz your reading things that haven't even been written. What is pretty funny is I was telling you the exact opposite - I am telling you it is possible - it is possible today and not only didn't I imply you can't achieve it I told you to go achieve it today - not "eventually" (your word!)

My advice to you Taylor - no matter if you like it or not - is to rethink using the word that YOU used "eventually" .

In today's market - with today's prices - with your stated final goal - the time for action is now - not eventually.

How about you go for your dream now?

I would start by changing your own mind first.

Not only are people telling you that you can't (not me - by the way) but you are also telling yourself you can't.

Re-read your last post and look at all the negativity you have - you listed out all the reasons you can't.

I didn't have any money and I had crap credit when I started.

Read through the pages here at BP and you will find people that lead busier lives then you do getting started.

Being here is a good first step - start reading - reading - reading and asking questions.

So - bottom line - if your asking me how you get started....1. Change your own mind and language cuz as Henry Ford once said not matter if you think you can or can't you will be right. 2. Read and educate yourself for free here and on other sites - a path will start to emerge for you - you will find something that interests you - maybe wholesaling or birddogging or Sub2 or something....

Be open (your closed right now) and let it happen.

Ok so whats a good ammount to start with?? I got into this because i used to work with a guy who worked at a bank and did property investing and was teaching me about it. He bought mostly out of state and used property managers. He said you could start with as much as $5000. I am saving but where should i be looking? He recommended texas and idaho. Any ideas? And jon, yes i am sort of conflicted. Those are sort of secondary goals, i just thought they would be good to have and help me learn the industry. I have actually my whole life been trying to be a fireman, like my father, and i have done all the training and schooling and i currently am working part time as one. I realized something though. Its not really a job you can do your whole life. It pays well but not well enough, it takes up lots of your time and id like the freedom to be with my family as much as possible. So now i have shifted my momentum. I have to totally change my thought pattern now towards business. All i have ever known is how to be a fireman. So yes that's why i have been on here doing my research.

Taylor, I too am new to Real Estate Investment. For many years I have been (and am still) in the computer programming field.

It can be very hard to hear negatives and statements that seem to try to keep you away from your dreams.
But we (you and I) are trying to move past those and learn what will bring us closer to our dreams.

I wish I had the real estate knowledge already to give you advice but the best I have is similar to Scott's posts... believe in you more than the negative comments. Find your strengths and know your limits then you can challenge yourself to greatness.

I look forward to learning with you through this site!

Terry,
If you are looking for a place to hang your license, with no monthly fees or office overhead, check out www.earnit-keepit.com
They offer training, mentoring, web based business systems, broker support, and you only pay a per transaction fee. And a low fee at that.
Starting your own business can be expensive and there is a lot to learn.
If you would like to talk, give me a shout.