I want to get into investing into multi family

Los Angeles County, California
Starting Out
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I want to get into investing into multi family

Samuel Munoz
Member since 2026 · 1 post · 1 vote

Hi guys, i turn 17 in a month and graduate high school next year. Im really interested in investing into multi family real estate or any real estate, i heard about it through my dads boss. I dont really know where i should start or what i should to right now to prepare, if you guys have any tips or can help me out let me know thanks!

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Twana RasoulBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4mo

San Diego investor here. Been doing this full time for nearly 7 years and own multifamily myself. Here's my honest take for someone starting out:

Stop trying to find cash flow on day one in San Diego. It's an appreciation market. The strategy that actually works here is house hacking a 2-4 unit. Live in one unit, rent the others, reduce your housing cost to near zero, build equity, then pull equity in 3-5 years and repeat.

That said, cash flow IS doable in San Diego but only through value-add. That means buying a property with below-market rents and bringing them up, and/or adding an ADU. Garage conversions are one of the best plays right now. Lower cost to build compared to ground-up ADUs, and they add a rentable unit that can meaningfully move your numbers.

I've seen clients go from zero properties to almost a dozen units in 5 years using this exact playbook. The first deal is always the hardest. The second one is almost always funded by the equity from the first.

What's your timeline and are you planning to owner-occupy? That determines whether we're looking at FHA on a duplex or 5% down conventional on a triplex or fourplex.

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  • Travis Main
    Lender · Orlando, FL · Member since 2023 · 220 posts · 183 votes
    4mo

    Hey Samuel, 

    You're getting interested at the right age. If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to focus on learning before worrying about buying a property immediately. Spend the next year learning how to analyze deals, understand financing, calculate cash flow, and study your local market. Read books, listen to podcasts, attend local real estate investor meetings, and talk to people who are actively doing deals.

    One advantage you have is time. At 17, you can make mistakes, learn from them, and still be far ahead of most people your age. I'd also recommend finding a job or internship that exposes you to real estate, construction, property management, lending, or sales. The experience and relationships you build now will be incredibly valuable later.

    Most successful investors didn't start with a large apartment building. Many started with a single-family home, duplex, or small multifamily property and grew from there. Stay curious, ask questions, and keep learning. You're already ahead of the game just by thinking about this now.

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  • Twana RasoulBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4mo

    San Diego investor here. Been doing this full time for nearly 7 years and own multifamily myself. Here's my honest take for someone starting out:

    Stop trying to find cash flow on day one in San Diego. It's an appreciation market. The strategy that actually works here is house hacking a 2-4 unit. Live in one unit, rent the others, reduce your housing cost to near zero, build equity, then pull equity in 3-5 years and repeat.

    That said, cash flow IS doable in San Diego but only through value-add. That means buying a property with below-market rents and bringing them up, and/or adding an ADU. Garage conversions are one of the best plays right now. Lower cost to build compared to ground-up ADUs, and they add a rentable unit that can meaningfully move your numbers.

    I've seen clients go from zero properties to almost a dozen units in 5 years using this exact playbook. The first deal is always the hardest. The second one is almost always funded by the equity from the first.

    What's your timeline and are you planning to owner-occupy? That determines whether we're looking at FHA on a duplex or 5% down conventional on a triplex or fourplex.

    Compass5122 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Denise SuppleeBusiness Member
    Realtor · Willow Grove, PA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 662 votes
    4mo

    I love that you're asking these questions now. One of the best things you can do at your age is focus on learning before worrying about buying.

    Read books, listen to podcasts, learn how to analyze deals, and spend time around investors whenever you can. Through the co-investing club I help run, I've seen people learn a tremendous amount simply by reviewing deals and hearing how experienced investors think through opportunities.The good news is that you're starting much earlier than most people. Time can be one of your greatest assets.

    Spark Rental Co-Investing Club584 Reviews
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