Thinking about investing in real estate

[Lake Bradford]

Hi, I will be starting my first job next September in Atlanta Georgia and am looking for some advice. Instead of renting, should I just buy real estate when I move there? I will be making around $110,000 annually and have $20,000 in student loan debt. 

[Michael Dumler]

@Lake Bradford, without knowing anything else about your financial profile, I recommend that you consider house hacking your first deal upon your move to Atlanta. Generally speaking, the earlier you can get into real estate and start investing, the better. That being said, most lenders will require at least two years of W2 tax returns to verify income and assess risk when granting a loan, so acquiring finance may be complex. 

You should focus on paying off the $20k you owe over the next year right now. If you're still in school, get a part-time job to help accomplish this. Lenders assess your DTI, and paying this off ASAP will put you in good standing.