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BlogArrowReal Estate Investing BasicsArrow3 Hurdles Aspiring Real Estate Investors Face (& How to Clear Them)
Real Estate Investing Basics

3 Hurdles Aspiring Real Estate Investors Face (& How to Clear Them)

Ryan Deasy
Expertise: Landlording & Rental Properties, Real Estate Investing Basics
19 Articles Written
hurdles on the red running track prepared for competition

Let’s play a game. The person to choose the correct answer will be blessed with good luck and great fortune.

What do you think is the most common question that I get?

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A. How are you so dashingly handsome?

B. I have been educating myself for a while, but how do I actually start investing in real estate?

C. Are there any good websites where I could connect with other real estate investors?

No, I am sorry, it is not “A.” Better luck next time. If you chose “C,” you’ll need to guess again, too.

The answer is “B.” And I love getting messages like this, because I truly want to help push people to the next level—just as I look for a push from others to get to my own personal next level.

How I Got My Start as a Real Estate Investor

Let me tell you how I did it. Unfortunately, this will probably only help a small number of you.

I did the opposite of analysis paralysis. I did no analysis, so there was no paralysis. I jumped in headfirst—not knowing anything—and just figured it out. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

This is a very stark contrast to just about everyone that I talk to. Most of what I hear is that potential new investors have done a ton of studying and feel they understand the concepts but are struggling to actually get started.

Therefore, what I want to do is take some of that fear away. I want to describe a few points that you may find useful in getting over that first hurdle.

Related: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Real Estate Investing

Common Reasons Wannabe Investors Hesitate

1. Money

The properties that I buy usually are in the range of $125,000 to $175,000 (just so you have a reference point). I usually have in the neighborhood of $25,000 to $40,000 saved to purchase a property.

If you are thinking that is not a lot, you are correct. When you start looking at down payments and closing costs, you are not left with very much.

On the flip side, if you think this is a lot, there are creative ways to get in for less, so do not feel discouraged.

I will say, I have a few credit cards that I rely on, as well as a line of credit or two. Trust me, I have maxed them all out in the past.

Now, let’s have some fun.

Property Purchase Example by the Numbers

I purchased a property in May 2018 using hard money. Here are a few dates and corresponding balances in my savings account:

  • May (after purchase): $12,059 – Oh, geez. What have I gotten into? (Sees property in person for the first time; it’s a complete disaster.)
  • August: $16,670 – Starting to get rolling on the rehab. Wish me luck!
  • October: $7,587 – OK, this is starting to hurt a bit—a lot of unforeseen issues.
  • December: $5,070 – Probably the point where someone stole all my copper pipes one night.
  • January 2019: $4,628 – I need to pay my personal mortgage, and it is not far from this number. Help!
  • After January: Phew, I’m in the clear. We have turned the corner and have started to collect rent. Onward and upward!

Why did I just do that? I want to show you that a lot of us, those who you may be talking to or seeing buy deals, might not be much different than you. We might have LESS money than you. Maybe we have more. Point is, there is some inherent risk that you have to accept.

I don’t care what the deal looks like, there is risk. You have to ask yourself, is it worth it or not?

No risk, no reward. Case closed.

2. Location

A lot of people are struggling with their location. The market where they are located is either too expensive, not the right class (A, B, C, D class), or the inventory just simply does not meet their criteria (i.e., there are only single families and they are looking for multifamily).

You have to make the call: Are you going to stick it out where you are or look in a different market? Do some research, point, and shoot.

There is no right answer. If you choose a different market and it doesn’t work out, you do not know that it would have worked if you had decided to stay in your market.

If you choose to stay where you are and make it work but it doesn’t work out, you do not know that it would have worked elsewhere. Hindsight is always 20/20, right?

Man Leaping Mid-air on Mountainside

Just make a decision and go with it. Like Jeff Bezos says, he gets paid to make a few important decisions. That is it.

If you choose a different location and you are not familiar with it, I highly recommend you drive or fly there. Get out and walk around or at least drive the streets. Get familiar with the good parts and the bad parts.

  • Do you see any new construction?
  • Do you see any new stores popping up?
  • Do you see people hanging out and having a good time?
  • Is there trash littered everywhere?
  • Are there even any duplexes there (if that’s what you want)?

3. Management

What happens if I have a clogged toilet at 3 a.m.? What if my tenant gets really mad at me because the heat stops working and it’s cold out? What if my tenant stops paying?

There are probably thousands of questions that could turn you off from actually executing on a deal. You are not alone in thinking like this.

You must decide how you will manage your properties. Will you self-manage or hire a property manager?

This question will be debated by real estate investors until the end of time. Half of the investor population will tell you to get a manager, and the other half will just say to do it yourself because you will end up “managing the manager” anyways.

This is what I can tell you. I self-manage long-distance (1,500 miles). I am happy with my decision, and I make it work seven days a week.

I am no smarter than anyone else. I simply pieced together a team after an arduous vetting process and then just ran with it. I have had plenty of stumbling blocks along the road, including thousands of wasted dollars on “contractors” who didn’t do what they said they were going to do. All of it was ultimately my fault.

Whether you decide to self-manage or not, you will end up putting time and resources into finding a property manager or piecing together your own team.

Related: 8 Steps to Survive Real Estate Investing’s Inevitable Challenges

The Bottom Line

Pick one direction, and start down that path. You can always switch to the other option if you need to.

All in all, while this crazy real estate life labors on day by day, it is worth it. Whether you are struggling with the money, location, or management aspect (or all three), it does eventually pay off.

I would recommend sticking it out—even if it feels like an impossible task. I can honestly say there have been at least 100 times I felt like I could not possibly continue—but I am glad I did.

What’s preventing you from getting started? Is there anything I can do to help?

Let’s talk in the comment section below.

By Ryan Deasy
Ryan Deasy, of Deasy Property Group and RentReddy, is a long-distance landlord currently residing in Houston, Texas. Originally from Connecticut, Ryan has employed various strategies and studied unique niches in order to grow and manage his portfolio. In 2012, Ryan purchased his first duplex. Little did he know, he had stumbled into house hacking and, from there, never looked back. In 2016, he moved to Houston and left all of his rentals behind with no property manager. Through many trials and tribulations, he discovered the best way to manage his portfolio was, simply, by himself at a distance. After employing rock solid systems and an all-encompassing team, he has been able to scale his portfolio without missing a beat. Not only is his entire portfolio managed from out-of-state but it is also comprised entirely of rent-by-the-room arrangements. With the appropriate systems and teams in place, Ryan has taken a group of small multifamily rental properties and made them into an exceedingly profitable income source.
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5 Replies
    Terry Lowe
    Replied about 1 year ago
    Love this! We inherited a couple slum units from my father. I’m sure he thought he was being funny. Attorneys, family, friends, property managers all said SELL NOW! Instead, I realized my father got a paycheck every month, even through Alzheimer’s, until the end of his life. We rolled up our sleeves and jumped in. It was the most important financial decision we ever made! We bought more units, without lots of numbers ahead of time. But we knew the area, and improved as we went along. It’s all working just fine and we do have a great property manager that I sometimes have to manage. It’s great to know that we should always get a paycheck. All of our properties are well maintained and we are happy to be landlords, not slumlords!
    Ryan Deasy Rental Property Investor from New Britain, CT
    Replied about 1 year ago
    Thanks for sharing Terry! these are the stories that i love. this is what makes all the hard work worth it. the fact that you literally have changed your future is incredible. these properties can be passed down for generations in the same manner if they are taken care of. best of luck to you. glad you made the right decision!

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    Dave Rav from Summerville, SC
    Replied about 1 year ago
    Actually, the most annoying question I get is "How many properties do you own now?" This makes me feel so very uncomfortable. Mostly because if I answer truthfully, the person asking (90% of the time, a non-REI) typically feels like my income 5x's them. Then they formulate thoughts about me, most of which center around hate. I dont like this.
    Ryan Deasy Rental Property Investor from New Britain, CT
    Replied about 1 year ago
    Hey Dave, thanks for commenting. i agree. i do not like that question either. if you are into working out, it is kind of like...how much do you bench press? haha

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    Eunice Villarroel
    Replied about 1 year ago
    Wow....such a great article. I am a total newb to this BiggerPockets site and intermediate when it comes to real estate. I appreciate you taking the time to write this. I have been self employed for a few years now. Unfortunately due to that banks have been especially tough on me even though I make a pretty good income, have a very good down payment And have a strong credit score. Im actually considering in investing into a real estate investor who knows more than me on the matter and is more qualified. I’ve been reading a lot on the subject However, all the real estate agents I spoke to on this seemed kinda shady and untrustworthy. Any thoughts on This? What are things I should look out for and what size of investment do they usually look for?

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