I started investing in real estate in Memphis, TN in March 2019. It's been great. Since then I've expanded to three other cities, which will each get their own post, but Memphis remains in my top two. I have two SFRs there and they are both cash cows. One was initially over $5000 in repairs and included an eviction that year. But since then, it's been great. It helps that of the four cities in which I've invested, Memphis has the best (in my experience) property manager. Reedy is a hard nosed (in a good way) property manager which I don't have to ever badger. One down note with them- they hold the rent a full month. So if December rent comes in on December 4, I don't get it until January 12 or so. Other than that, I highly recommend them.

I financed it from savings I had and by taking small mortgage loans from Northpointe bank (based in California). The properties are in my name (which I don't love), and the interest rates can be bought down to 5%. That's not the best rate I've heard, especially in 2020, but it got me in the game, and for that I am grateful. Northpointe required 20% down, which was fine with me. The first house was $50,000, which I negotiated down from $52,000. I didn't know much at that point, and I wish I had bargained harder. EMD, inspections, and closing totaled $14811.47 to initially own an investment property, with a opening mortgage of $373.15 and a rent of $750 (Section 8, $263 was subsidized, $487 from the tenant). Escrow adjustments have since dropped the mortgage to $339.97 (annual property tax of $1,000 is helpful). In this specific example, Section 8 has been beneficial to me because it has encouraged the tenant to pay on time or risk losing Section 8 eligibility. So to new investors wondering if they could ever afford this, $15,000 can get you going. And I'm sure other people out there have done it for far less. I would like to pivot into multifamilies in Memphis, but I know I need to get the finer points of deal-finding and deal-making down. I'm quite behind in the Bigger Pockets podcast, but I'm listening to #167 with Kevin Woods and his experience on multi-family buying. Thanks Kevin, you've already saved me thousands.

It's cool to see how people get started. Thanks for sharing. Did you do any initial rehabs for any of the properties? And after taking all expenses into account, about how much are you cashflowing?

How did you choose the markets you wanted to invest in?

Cole, I weighed rent amounts, property values, and known information on property managers. I also used Roofstock, which operates in 23 or so cities nationwide. So I was somewhat limited by that.

Taylor, about half the properties required some kind of initial repairs, even if only a few hundred dollars worth. Several of them ranged in the $5,000-9,000 amount, which I did not anticipate properly. So I have certainly learned to buy, if not turnkey, properties in much better shape.

The two properties in Memphis are cash flowing $300 and dead even if I discount the second one's initial rehab and eviction totaling $6300. That was a rough start but it's going well now and the second one somehow has appreciated 20%+ in the year and half since I've purchased it.

@Lars Hasseler

I love reading stories like yours. Honestly, I have grown tired of the Bigger Pockets podcasts where the guests are millionaires and billionaires, owning hundreds of doors, etc. I know stuff like that is great motivation for a lot of people, but as someone just starting out in REI, who doesn't want to quit their job or make REI a full time career, I can't relate to most of the guests these days.

But that's okay, because BP also has forum posts like yours. Reading about your experience, motivates me. It's just goes to show that even if you don't have a lot to invest, you can jump in, roll with the punches, take some lumps, and still make it work, as long as you keep it all in perspective and remember that REI is a long-game. So, thanks again, Lars.

Have a Happy New Year, everyone.

Originally posted by @Lars Hasseler :

Taylor, about half the properties required some kind of initial repairs, even if only a few hundred dollars worth. Several of them ranged in the $5,000-9,000 amount, which I did not anticipate properly. So I have certainly learned to buy, if not turnkey, properties in much better shape.

The two properties in Memphis are cash flowing $300 and dead even if I discount the second one's initial rehab and eviction totaling $6300. That was a rough start but it's going well now and the second one somehow has appreciated 20%+ in the year and half since I've purchased it.

That's some good cash flow there, and that appreciation is always a nice bonus. Goes to show how forgiving real estate can be

Originally posted by @Bradley Chapple :

@Lars Hasseler

I love reading stories like yours. Honestly, I have grown tired of the Bigger Pockets podcasts where the guests are millionaires and billionaires, owning hundreds of doors, etc. I know stuff like that is great motivation for a lot of people, but as someone just starting out in REI, who doesn't want to quit their job or make REI a full time career, I can't relate to most of the guests these days.

But that's okay, because BP also has forum posts like yours. Reading about your experience, motivates me. It's just goes to show that even if you don't have a lot to invest, you can jump in, roll with the punches, take some lumps, and still make it work, as long as you keep it all in perspective and remember that REI is a long-game. So, thanks again, Lars.

Have a Happy New Year, everyone.

The Real Estate Rookie podcast might be good for you. Has a lot of guests that are earlier in their RE journey. Also, one of the hosts, Tony Robinson, had a podcast called Your First Real Estate Investment that solely features investors discussing details of their first deal. He's no longer doing that podcast but there are more than 60 episodes.

Originally posted by @Taylor D. Jenkins :

Originally posted by @Bradley Chapple:

@Lars Hasseler

I love reading stories like yours. Honestly, I have grown tired of the Bigger Pockets podcasts where the guests are millionaires and billionaires, owning hundreds of doors, etc. I know stuff like that is great motivation for a lot of people, but as someone just starting out in REI, who doesn't want to quit their job or make REI a full time career, I can't relate to most of the guests these days.

But that's okay, because BP also has forum posts like yours. Reading about your experience, motivates me. It's just goes to show that even if you don't have a lot to invest, you can jump in, roll with the punches, take some lumps, and still make it work, as long as you keep it all in perspective and remember that REI is a long-game. So, thanks again, Lars.

Have a Happy New Year, everyone.

The Real Estate Rookie podcast might be good for you. Has a lot of guests that are earlier in their RE journey. Also, one of the hosts, Tony Robinson, had a podcast called Your First Real Estate Investment that solely features investors discussing details of their first deal. He's no longer doing that podcast but there are more than 60 episodes.

Thanks, Taylor. I have listened to the Real Estate Rookie podcasts, and they are more my speed, but still hit or miss. Again, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having a variety of guests who are at different stages of success.

I didn't know about Tony Robinson's podcast, though. I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the tip!