New Military Officer - Should I Jump Into Real Estate Right Away?

[Verril Martinez]

Hi everyone,

I’m an incoming military officer, soon to be stationed in Texas. Over the past month, I’ve been devouring books, audiobooks, and podcasts to build up my financial literacy. Like many, I’ve been inspired by the idea of financial freedom that’s so often talked about in that “purple book” we all know. My goal is to leverage my military benefits as early as possible to start building wealth.

But here’s my concern: Am I moving too fast?

Most of the stories I've read from service members who house-hacked or used the VA loan to kickstart their portfolio come from people who had already been active duty for a couple of years. I'm fresh out of training and still learning the ropes, so I don't want to overextend myself.

My tentative plan is to spend my first 6 months getting to know the Texas market, then look into house hacking. For my situation, would it be smarter to:

* Start with a duplex (or small multi-family), or

* Buy a single-family home with 3–4 rooms and rent to other officers who are looking for affordable housing?

Any advice on how to pace myself and choose the right starting strategy would be greatly appreciated.

[Adam Bartomeo]

You are not moving fast enough! The sooner you can start the better off you are. Research "compounding interest" and you will understand. I just bought a house with my oldest daughter, she is 18. She is house hacking right now with a roommate paying her rent. "House hacking" and "Live in Flips" are the best way to get started.