What would you do with 50k?

[Luke Mertz]

So as an 18 year old I have the opportunity to go through a 2 year program then receive a 50,000$ signing bonus plus pay. I will also have a VA loan from the air national guard and tri-care for extremely reduced price health care.

With this I have the chance to save lots of money, house hack every year with the VA loan and invest with my signing bonus.

My biggest question would be what to do with the signing bonus. I definitely want to house hack triplex or 4plex for a year then turn them into rentals. What would you do with the bonus? Should I try to pay down a property as soon as possible or spread it out with traditional 20% down payments?

[Melissa Justice]

@Luke Mertz,

Hey Luke! You are in a really great position.

If it were me, I’d keep the bonus liquid and use it strategically:

• Use the VA loan for your first house hack (no down payment, live for cheap).
• Then, when you move out, use part of the bonus for the next property - maybe a small multifamily or single-family in a cash-flow market.
• Avoid dumping it all into one property; spread it across multiple deals or reserves to stay flexible.

Also keep a solid emergency fund and maybe allocate a small chunk toward personal development (real estate education, networking, etc.). That combo will compound fast.

Always happy to chat more about what's worked for other investors. Best of luck!