Advice for a young person

[Matt Lee]

Hey everyone,

I’m 21, currently finishing up my business management degree, and I’ll have my real estate license within the next month. My goal is to get sponsored by a brokerage in Western Massachusetts by December.

Here’s where I could use some advice:

• Part of me thinks I should jump into being an agent right after college, build up some experience, make money through commissions, and grow a network that way before buying my first property.
• On the other hand, I’m also considering going straight into my first property purchase using an FHA loan once I graduate. I’d plan to live in it for a year, then turn it into a rental and build from there.

So my main question is: Is it smarter to spend a couple of years as an agent to gain capital and knowledge, or should I skip that step and get right into my first property while I’m young?

I’d love to hear from those who have been in my shoes — what worked best for you, and what do you wish you did differently starting out?

Thanks in advance!