New Aspiring House Hacker in Pittsburgh PA

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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New Aspiring House Hacker in Pittsburgh PA

Justice NewlandPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes

Hi BP fam!

My name is Justice and I live in the Pittsburgh area. My W-2 is traffic engineering, but I am super hype to get into real estate on the side as I pursue financial freedom! I plan to start house hacking within the next year. I am currently learning as much as I can, saving money, and trying to network! One fun fact about me is that I pole vaulted in college! 

Looking forward to making real estate friends

Justice 

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Jim K.
Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
4y

@Justice Newland

I live and househack in Pittsburgh, Justice. It's wonderful meeting someone else local who's read Set for Life and is determined to realize the value of househacking for themselves. I didn't start househacking until I had been in the game for quite some time. I left a townhouse condo HOA next to Ross Park Mall with a clubhouse, tennis courts, and a swimming pool in order to move into a hundred-year-old over-under duplex I bought on the edge of Homestead (much nearer my wife's job) for $45K cash. It took me three years of my spare time to renovate the upstairs, but within a week of advertising the place I moved tenants in at $900/month.

Every advantage @Scott Trench lays out in the book that I have tested works, exactly as advertised.

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  • Lorenzo Prieto
    Lender · Member since 2022 · 74 posts · 50 votes
    4y

    Hey Justice! 

    Pole vaulting! Wow, that's pretty cool! Welcome to the BP community! Like you, I'm a newer BP member also but work in the real estate world as a mortgage loan originator. Happy to meet you!

    0Reply
  • Dave Skow
    Lender · Seattle, WA · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 899 votes
    4y

    @Justice Newland- welcome - make sure to learn / understand the  basic loan / financing  details for your  1st  purchase ....many  would be  buyers  lose sight  about this  component   but its   essential  ..especially  if you plan to buy your first place  with a low  down payment 

    0Reply
  • Zack Demopoulos
    New to Real Estate · Randolph, NJ · Member since 2022 · 5 posts · 0 votes
    4y

    Same here but I have a shorter time line.  Need to buy something soon (1031).  Very exciting.  Btw I met a polevaulter for the first time.  He's from the UK and now lives in the US and helps people do TEDX talks. Adam Lewis Walker.  He was good until he blew out his knee.  Great guy.  You're the second pole vaulter I have ever met!

    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y

    Hi @Dave Skow!

    Thanks for the advice! I am just about to start the chapter on financing in Craig Curelop’s House Hacking book, so hopefully soon I will know a lot more on the topic than I currently do! 

    1Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Lorenzo Prieto:

    Hey Justice! 

    Pole vaulting! Wow, that's pretty cool! Welcome to the BP community! Like you, I'm a newer BP member also but work in the real estate world as a mortgage loan originator. Happy to meet you!

    Hi Lorenzo!
    Thanks for responding! Thats neat that you work as a mortgage loan originator, I bet you know a lot on the subject, which can hopefully assist you with own personal pursuits. Best of luck with your real estate journey too!
    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Zack Demopoulos:

    Same here but I have a shorter time line.  Need to buy something soon (1031).  Very exciting.  Btw I met a polevaulter for the first time.  He's from the UK and now lives in the US and helps people do TEDX talks. Adam Lewis Walker.  He was good until he blew out his knee.  Great guy.  You're the second pole vaulter I have ever met!

    Hi Zack!
    Thanks for responding to my post! That’s really neat that you met him! I am also retired due to injury, seems to be a trend with the sport haha. Good luck with finding a place soon for your 1031!
    0Reply
  • Bradley Dosch
    Real Estate Agent · Seattle, WA · Member since 2019 · 301 posts · 188 votes
    4y

    Hey Justice, thanks for making this post! Traffic engineering sounds neat, I wonder how much you'd agree with that statement lol. Sounds like you have a great plan in place, hopefully you keep us updated along the way!

    0Reply
  • Julio GonzalezPro Member
    Specialist · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    You came to the right place to learn more about real estate investing, Justice! 

    Welcome aboard and best of luck investing! 

    561-253-6640
    0Reply
  • Justin WindhamPro Member
    Banker · Nationwide · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    @Justice Newland

    It’s great to have you here!

    If you want to invest into real estate, this site is awesome!

    There are a few self-contained guides that you can access here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides


    I really like the alerts feature that can quickly guide you to current topics that might interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

    0Reply
  • Doug JohnsonPro Member
    Investor · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 8 votes
    4y

    Good luck! Housing hacking is a great strategy especially in uncertain times. Lower expenses and hedging inflation with fixed rate debt. 

    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Bradley Dosch:

    Hey Justice, thanks for making this post! Traffic engineering sounds neat, I wonder how much you'd agree with that statement lol. Sounds like you have a great plan in place, hopefully you keep us updated along the way!


     Hi Bradley! 

    Thank you for responding to my post! Traffic engineering if definitely neat as long as you are a little bit of a nerd (which I completely own up to). I am very excited to take action on my plans. I see that you specialize in house hacking real estate, that is neat! How did you get into that niche? I know we are on opposite sides of the country, but if you have any general advice for House Hacking, I am all ears. 

    Thanks again, Justice. 

    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Julio Gonzalez:

    You came to the right place to learn more about real estate investing, Justice! 

    Welcome aboard and best of luck investing! 


     Thanks Julio! Everyone is so nice already, I am very glad to be here. 

    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Justin Windham:

    @Justice Newland

    It’s great to have you here!

    If you want to invest into real estate, this site is awesome!

    There are a few self-contained guides that you can access here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides


    I really like the alerts feature that can quickly guide you to current topics that might interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts


     Hi Justin!

    Thank you so much! I am not very familiar with the site yet so that is super helpful! I just set up an alert for house hacking thanks to your advice.

    Justice

    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Doug Johnson:

    Good luck! Housing hacking is a great strategy especially in uncertain times. Lower expenses and hedging inflation with fixed rate debt. 


     Hi Doug!

    Thanks for responding! Those are my thoughts as well. I read Set For Life and am now trying to reduce my expenses in housing and transportation as much as possible by finding a house hack near work where I can ride my one-wheel in to the North Shore. I see you are also in Pittsburgh, have you been investing here long? 

    Thanks,

    Justice 

    0Reply
  • Jim K.
    Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    4y

    @Justice Newland

    I live and househack in Pittsburgh, Justice. It's wonderful meeting someone else local who's read Set for Life and is determined to realize the value of househacking for themselves. I didn't start househacking until I had been in the game for quite some time. I left a townhouse condo HOA next to Ross Park Mall with a clubhouse, tennis courts, and a swimming pool in order to move into a hundred-year-old over-under duplex I bought on the edge of Homestead (much nearer my wife's job) for $45K cash. It took me three years of my spare time to renovate the upstairs, but within a week of advertising the place I moved tenants in at $900/month.

    Every advantage @Scott Trench lays out in the book that I have tested works, exactly as advertised.

    3Reply
  • Scott TrenchPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    4y

    Thank you for the shoutout, @Jim K.! 

    @Justice Newland if you are interested in the book, I'd be happy to send you a free PDF or Audio file for free! Just DM me. 

    Podcast Guest on Show #223
    BiggerPockets
    2Reply
  • Scott TrenchPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    4y

    I should have read the thread more carefully! Oops! I am glad that you read the book already! 

    Podcast Guest on Show #223
    BiggerPockets
    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Jim K.:

    @Justice Newland

    I live and househack in Pittsburgh, Justice. It's wonderful meeting someone else local who's read Set for Life and is determined to realize the value of househacking for themselves. I didn't start househacking until I had been in the game for quite some time. I left a townhouse condo HOA next to Ross Park Mall with a clubhouse, tennis courts, and a swimming pool in order to move into a hundred-year-old over-under duplex I bought on the edge of Homestead (much nearer my wife's job) for $45K cash. It took me three years of my spare time to renovate the upstairs, but within a week of advertising the place I moved tenants in at $900/month.

    Every advantage @Scott Trench lays out in the book that I have tested works, exactly as advertised.


     Hi Jim,

    Thank you so much for responding to my post! It is even more wonderful meeting someone who is local, has read Set for Life, AND has already accomplished what I am just setting out to do! If you ever want to talk about Pittsburgh real estate or anything financial freedom related please reach out!

    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y

    Hi @Scott Trench!

    Yes, I have read your book and it has altered my life's trajectory. Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of the knowledge that you have acquired. I am now onto Craig Curelop's book, and I am hooked. Great job running BiggerPockets.I am excited to be entering into this space and community.

    Justice

    0Reply
  • Clayton Hepler
    Rental Property Investor · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 150 posts · 50 votes
    4y

    Hey Justice, you are making the right choice. I bought a house hack in Highland Park and in less than 2 years it increased my net worth 200K. Now I own over 4,000,000 of real estate less than two years since I first closed on it.... 

    Message me if you have any questions

    1Reply
  • Elise Bickel TauberBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Cranberry Twp · Member since 2017 · 385 posts · 198 votes
    4y

    Hi Justice! Congrats on making the decision to change your life and start investing in real estate. I have so many investors I work with that started by house hacking and end up with a large portfolio.

    Are you planning to go FHA? I think that may be the best option for the first one. I've had investors with 10-20% available to put down but I really like the idea of keeping as much money in your pocket as possible for emergencies.

    Best of luck!

    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y

    Hi @Clayton Hepler!

    I am so glad to meet someone else who is house hacking in Pittsburgh! That is incredible how quickly your net worth has increased. It seems like house hacking is the best way to start. I will definitely reach out.

    Thanks!

    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Elise Bickel Tauber:

    Hi Justice! Congrats on making the decision to change your life and start investing in real estate. I have so many investors I work with that started by house hacking and end up with a large portfolio.

    Are you planning to go FHA? I think that may be the best option for the first one. I've had investors with 10-20% available to put down but I really like the idea of keeping as much money in your pocket as possible for emergencies.

    Best of luck!

    Hi Elise!
    Thank you for responding to my post! I am definitely leaning towards the FHA as long as the numbers work. Anyone I talk to that is not in real estate (such as my family) tells me not the pay the PMI, but I try to explain that my tenants will be paying it. I definitely like the idea of having a large reserve in cash just in case anything happens, and to help me sleep better at night. Thank you for the reassurance in the FHA front and the general encouragement!
    Justice 
    0Reply
  • Jennifer Jo McCallonBusiness Member
    Member since 2020 · 62 posts · 59 votes
    4y

    Pittsburgh is a really easy market to get into- you will have no problem cash flowing and building equity. We own several homes there, but live in CA. Good luck to you. 

    [email protected]510-545-6390
    0Reply
  • Justice NewlandPro Member
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2022 · 18 posts · 7 votes
    4y

    Hi @Jennifer Jo McCallon!

    That is super great to hear! Thank you for responding to my post. I am happy that it is working out for you to invest in Pittsburgh!

    0Reply
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