College town rentals beginner

[Landrin Lewien]

Hello everyone, I’m 21 years old and I’m ready to get into the real estate game. I went to tech college in lacrosse wi and I fell in love with the town, it has a University, a private nursing college and a very big technical college. It’s a college town no doubt and I’ve spent about 4 years hanging around there. I’m in the process of closing on a single family home close to campus and I plan to rent it out to students. $150k and a 20% downpayment is about 30k... almost every penny I have in my young age. It’s a 3 bed 2 bath. I’ve looked on Zillow to see similar houses in the area for rent and there charging $900-1200 a month. I feel like I’m going to have trouble getting profit out of it after I pay my mortgage and taxes. I’m blowing my life savings and don’t feel like I will see much of a return. Any thoughts? I’m very new to this but I’m eager and determined looking for some tips.

[Donald SaintVal]

First of all 30k at 21? Great for you. That's incredible. You are way ahead of the game. I know you say it's your life's savings, but the same mentality that got you that much at such a young age will drive you to make much more as you get wiser. Money will come and go. Regarding the property, that $900 I would imagine is for one room, correct? If you putting 20% down the mortgage and insurance will be way below 900 total. If you are renting rooms individually, even at $600 each, you stand to make a good profit. Also you can confident living in one of the rooms and renting out the other 2. That way you can only part with 3.5% down via FHA. More money in your pocket to possibly purchase another.