Is There A Best Job To Get Your Feet Wet?

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Is There A Best Job To Get Your Feet Wet?

Xavier A Hargrove
Morgantown, WV · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 2 votes

Hey Everyone,

I am new to real estate, I have no prior experience and just now planning out my strategy and business to start my career. I was doing some reading in the forums, just looking for more knowledge, and saw a post on different jobs to get into when starting out.

That got me thinking, there seems to be many jobs out there that can develop skills that will coincide with the skills needed to be a real estate investor. But what are the best jobs out there to really give you that push in the right direction for your real estate career. What experiences have people had with jobs that gave them a head start to their real estate career.

I myself, have made the decision to start my venture with the house flipping strategy. Taking less desirable houses and transforming them into 

Please share your experiences and what has worked best. Just want to know other peoples personal experiences, mistakes and tips for when they were just getting started. 

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  • Victor G.
    Rochester, NY · Member since 2016 · 23 posts · 10 votes
    8y
    Hey man great choice and best of luck. I believe there is no wrong job to take for example you can take a customer service job which can help with dealing with different people or you can work in a bank which can help you gain connections with lenders. As for hands on you can work as a handyman or earn a trade with a specialized skills that can help with renovations.
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  • Jack Butala
    Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 515 votes
    8y

    @Xavier A Hargrove welcome to BiggerPockets!  I have spent several years perfecting and sourcing undervalued property for immediate resale.  First, I totally agree that there are indeed numerous jobs out there that can coincide with the skills you are developing to be a real estate investor.  In my experience, however, I discovered that starting out flipping houses (which is how you would like to start out) came with a few issues.  

    I have had much better success, Xavier, with sending out offers to owners directly.

    Happy to help further.  Please PM me.  Once again, welcome to BiggerPockets and good luck to you.

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  • Xavier A Hargrove
    OP
    Morgantown, WV · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    Thank you for the response and insight @Victor G.

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  • Marc Winter
    Real Estate Broker · Northeast PA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    A blank slate is a wonderful thing--you don't have to unlearn bad habits. 

    A little background and a little direction:  I started as a contractor, then became a (successful, meaning hard-working) real estate agent.  Both of those were beneficial to my investment life.

    If I were to give advice, I suggest setting aside at least 6 months of living expenses, hunting down a successful local real estate investor (go to your local meet-ups, REIA meetings, etc) and offer to work for them for no pay, IF they will help you learn the business.

    When you learn the basics, you have to become an expert in market values in your area.  Only one way to really get that--inspect, inspect and inspect some more.

    Believe it or not, after the above, the rest will start to fall right into place.

    Good luck to you, welcome to a wonderful and exciting world.  Let us all know how you make out!

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  • Xavier A Hargrove
    OP
    Morgantown, WV · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    Thank you @Marc Winter for the response and insight, very good tactic to find a mentor may have to give it a try

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  • Corinne Wilhelm
    Member since 2018 · 1 post · 0 votes
    8y

    I devoured Brandon's book on rental investing and I have limited funds to put up front but see that I need to invest in property to secure a more comfortable retirement. I am almost 50 - hoping I haven't left it too late. 

    Now I have seen a potentially dream place, amazing location, half rennovated then abandoned. Thinking of buying it, living in one part and renting out the top floor which is not yet ready, we could rennovate whilst we live downstairs. Rental flip? Getting workmen is a nightmare in boom market Berlin. Any tips and could @Brandon Turner really check it out for me like he mentioned (book/podcast)

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