If you had to start out fresh tomorrow with only $40k....

[Beth Blankenbicker]

Hi everyone. I'm starting out as a new-ish investor. I had bought a duplex to house hack in and it wasn't a good fit (didn't really know how to analyze a deal at the time) so I sold it during the peak of 2020 and banked some cash and I have spent the last two years reading, listening to podcasts, etc, to get a more thorough education. I feel ready to jump back in and do it right this time but I want to maximize my resources in order to scale up quickly. I have $42k in cash, another $15-21k in easily liquidated accounts, an income of $2400 a week (potentially more) before taxes and an 810 credit score. I currently rent an apartment for next to nothing but ultimately I want to relocate to TN, SC or FL. I'm falling into that paralysis through analysis trap- should I house hack first? Look for a 4-plex? Stay in my apartment for now while I build my portfolio and then use my portfolio cash flow to buy a house for myself later? BRRRR?

My ultimate goal is to quit my 9-5 (really its 7-7, yuck) I work as a registered nurse and 2.5 yrs of pandemic nursing has me burnt out!! I want financial freedom to pursue my true life's passion- in fact my time is far more important to me than where or what I live in. So basically, if you were in my shoes, how would you best put those resources to work knowing what you know now with the end goal being freedom from the daily grind?