Question to People with Real Estate Experience

New to Real Estate · Paducah, KY · Member since 2026 · 15 posts · 10 votes

I'm 18 and have been researching real estate for the past year learning the mindset and getting my foot in the door where I'm currently doing BRRRRs with an older investor who also does all the contracting so learning both sides hands on. I'm saving up a down payment and working on credit aswell.

Im curious about what yall believe are some steps that I should be ensuring to take at a young age to best help out my investing career.

Should I look for ways into my own deals now? Should I just keep learning through research,books,and hands on work?

Just curious what yall more seasoned investors believe I should do??

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Garrett CrosbyPro Member

Real Estate Agent · Los Angeles, United States · Member since 2021 · 392 posts · 162 votes

5mo

Honestly at 18, the fact that you're doing hands-on BRRRRs with an experienced investor is already ahead of 95% of people who come to this forum asking where to start. Most people your age are reading books and watching YouTube. You're actually doing the work.

Travis and JD nailed the core of it — capital and credit are your two biggest levers right now. But I'd add one more thing: relationships. The investor you're working with is already a huge asset. Every contractor, lender, agent, and wholesaler you meet through that person is a potential door to your first deal. Treat those relationships like they matter because they do.

On whether to do your own deals now — I'd say yes, but be selective. At your age you don't need to force a deal to prove something. What you're looking for is a deal where someone with more experience than you can validate the numbers and the scope before you commit. You don't want your first deal to be a lesson you can't afford. A house hack is probably the cleanest first deal for someone your age — FHA loan, low down payment, live in one unit, rent the others. You learn landlording with skin in the game but limited downside.

Keep doing what you're doing. You're building the foundation most people in their 30s wish they had. Happy to DM if you want to talk through a specific deal or market.

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Travis Main
Lender · Orlando, FL · Member since 2023 · 220 posts · 183 votes
5mo
Hey Kayden,
You're already doing something most people don't do, which is getting real-world experience before you have money on the line. A lot of people spend years reading books and listening to podcasts but never actually see how a deal gets bought, renovated, managed, and refinanced. Being involved with BRRRRs and learning the construction side at 18 is a huge advantage.

If I were in your shoes, I'd keep doing exactly what you're doing while aggressively building your credit, saving cash, and networking with investors, lenders, contractors, agents, and wholesalers. The knowledge is important, but the relationships you build now will open doors later. I'd also spend time learning how to analyze deals quickly and accurately because that's a skill you'll use for the rest of your investing career.

As far as doing your own deals, I'd keep my eyes open for opportunities but wouldn't force one just because you're eager to get started. The first deal doesn't need to be a home run. It just needs to be a solid deal that teaches you the process without putting you in a bad position financially. Keep learning, keep saving, keep working alongside experienced investors, and when the right opportunity comes along you'll be in a much better position to capitalize on it. At 18, time is one of your biggest assets, so focus on building the foundation now and the deals will come.
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JD MartinBusiness Member
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Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
5mo
Make money and save it. You need money to be an investor.
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Garrett CrosbyPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Los Angeles, United States · Member since 2021 · 392 posts · 162 votes
5mo
Honestly at 18, the fact that you're doing hands-on BRRRRs with an experienced investor is already ahead of 95% of people who come to this forum asking where to start. Most people your age are reading books and watching YouTube. You're actually doing the work.
Travis and JD nailed the core of it — capital and credit are your two biggest levers right now. But I'd add one more thing: relationships. The investor you're working with is already a huge asset. Every contractor, lender, agent, and wholesaler you meet through that person is a potential door to your first deal. Treat those relationships like they matter because they do.
On whether to do your own deals now — I'd say yes, but be selective. At your age you don't need to force a deal to prove something. What you're looking for is a deal where someone with more experience than you can validate the numbers and the scope before you commit. You don't want your first deal to be a lesson you can't afford. A house hack is probably the cleanest first deal for someone your age — FHA loan, low down payment, live in one unit, rent the others. You learn landlording with skin in the game but limited downside.
Keep doing what you're doing. You're building the foundation most people in their 30s wish they had. Happy to DM if you want to talk through a specific deal or market.
[email protected]
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Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
5mo
You're already miles ahead by having a mentor/older investor show you the ropes.

i would listen to as many podcasts and read as many real estate books as possible. I'd learn personal finance first and then move your focus into real estate.
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Sara Joe
Specialist · Member since 2025 · 82 posts · 31 votes
5mo
Quote from @Kayden Wahl:

I'm 18 and have been researching real estate for the past year learning the mindset and getting my foot in the door where I'm currently doing BRRRRs with an older investor who also does all the contracting so learning both sides hands on. I'm saving up a down payment and working on credit aswell.

Im curious about what yall believe are some steps that I should be ensuring to take at a young age to best help out my investing career.

Should I look for ways into my own deals now? Should I just keep learning through research,books,and hands on work?

Just curious what yall more seasoned investors believe I should do??

You're already ahead of most people your age simply by getting hands-on exposure instead of staying in research mode.
One thing I've noticed is that real estate rewards practical experience much faster than theoretical knowledge. The lessons from actual conversations, negotiations, contractors, sellers, and deal execution tend to stick far more than anything you read in a book.
If I were in your position, I'd keep learning while staying as close to real deals as possible. Pattern recognition comes from reps, and reps are hard to replace.
You're in a great spot if you're already seeing both the investment side and the construction side firsthand.

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