Hi @Joshua S. - Greetings from Gratz Park in Downtown Lexington! Simply put, the one thing I wish I knew beforehand was that the most knowledge I would obtain was simply by doing. I spent a lot of time reading real estate books and message boards, over-analyzing spreadsheets, etc. The best education for me was simply taking action. Good luck out there!
Practical- We thought we were smart by having a shorter loan on our first property and in-turn having less interest to pay with a 15yr loan. Turns out 2 months later we actually started learning more about REI and found having a 30yr loan would have been more in line with our goals of have more cashflow. A refinance later we felt wiser!
In General- Everyone I commit to doing business with had to pass the same test. They had to be responsive, helpful/friendly, and be knowledgeable in the capacity I plan to hire them. Whatever standards you set for working with others, be the same in return.
15yr loans are great to build equity (higher payments mean more of the loan is being payed off). Most investors tent to opt for a 30yr loan (lower payments) for more cash flow. They use that immediate income to buy more investments sooner.
Either way the tenant is paying for the mortgage and the opportunity cost of where your want that money to go equity or income.
Hi @Joshua S. - Greetings from Gratz Park in Downtown Lexington! Simply put, the one thing I wish I knew beforehand was that the most knowledge I would obtain was simply by doing. I spent a lot of time reading real estate books and message boards, over-analyzing spreadsheets, etc. The best education for me was simply taking action. Good luck out there!
Thank you for the input. I have been in the absorbing mode far to long. Time to take action! I appreciate this advice and plan on implementing it immediately!
@Joshua S. make sure to come join us for the local meet ups (virtual ATM).
My tip is to treat it like a business from the start. You can still do it on the side but don't treat it like a hobby or a side job. Take it seriously from the start.
@Joshua S. One thing is tough but I'd say probably networking. More opportunities and better opportunities will come along with having resources to pull from... real estate agents, friends to look over numbers, handymen, contractors, plumbers, electricians, lenders, etc. You'll save time and money building your network. In the end, you'll learn the most by jumping in. Good Luck.
@Joshua S. I agree with @Jonathan Pliszka, just take action. Start analyzing deals and making offers now. You may not get any accepted but you will learn a ton in the process. I learned more from owning my first rental property than from reading the all the books combined.
@Matt Bailey Thanks for the advice. I am working on expanding my network and have already felt the great benefits from connecting with people in my area. I am excited about the journey and eager to complete my first deal.
@Joseph Back Thanks for the reply. I enjoy analyzing deals but admittedly have been hesitant to make any offers. Time to move past the fear and take the next step and submit some offers. I appreciate the motivation.