21 Year Old Looking to Buy First Property

[Cade Carver]

Hey everyone, my name's Cade and I'm 21 years old from Louisville, Kentucky. I'm coming up on my senior year of college and after I get out, I want to buy my first property within a year of getting out. Right now, I believe that I want to find a duplex and go the house hacking route. I have a good amount saved for my down payment already and I am going to continue to save as much as I can over this next year to make my dream a reality. My goal is to use the BiggerPockets Stack method over the next decade to stack properties and be able to become financially free. I would love to hear anyone's personal advice or something that they wish they knew when they were first getting started in their real estate investing journey.

[Ryan Spath]

@Cade Carver

You’re in an incredible position at 21—deciding to invest this early already puts you years ahead of the curve.

If I could go back to that age knowing what I know now, I'd 100% house hack a 2–4 unit property using an FHA loan. The most important part? Underwriting the deal so that it still cash flows once you move out. And remember—location is everything. Choose the right area of town, even if it means going smaller or more modest on the property itself.

I love that you’re aiming to follow the BiggerPockets Stack method. It’s a powerful strategy. Even if you buy just one 4-unit building every other year, in 10 years you could own 5 properties and 20 doors. With rent growth and conservative management, netting just $400 per unit would give you $8,000/month—or $96,000/year—in passive income. That’s enough to cover your lifestyle and give you the freedom to work on your own terms.

A few quick lessons I wish I knew starting out:

• Always budget for repairs. ACs break, water heaters leak, and something will go wrong.
• Run your properties like a business. Stick to the numbers, build systems early, and avoid emotional decisions.
• Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Whether it’s living in one unit, handling repairs, or managing tenants—it’s temporary. The payoff is long-term comfort and financial freedom.

I’m based in Boise, Idaho, but the fundamentals apply in any market. If you ever want to talk strategy or have a deal you’d like another set of eyes on, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Keep stacking and keep us posted—excited to see where your journey takes you!