New to BP! Hello!

[Justin Tallaksen]

Hello,

I've worked in the financial industry for approximately a decade. I've become well accustomed with traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and derivatives.

I recently became interested in expanding my personal portfolio to include real estate investments. I grew up in New Jersey in an owner-occupied duplex owned by my father. My father taught me the responsibilities that come with being a landlord alongside the benefits such as cash flow and stability. I'm eager to learn more and begin my rental real estate portfolio when the right opportunity arises.

[Melissa Justice]

@Justin Tallaksen,

Hey Justin,

Welcome to the community and it sounds like you’re bringing a really solid foundation to the table. Your background in finance will serve you extremely well as you dive into real estate investing. The fact that you’ve also seen the benefits of rental property firsthand through your father is a huge advantage—you already understand that it's not just about passive income, but about management, long-term thinking, and building wealth steadily.

Since you're familiar with analyzing risk and returns from traditional investments, transitioning to real estate can be as analytical as you're used to—cash flow, cap rate, CoCROI, equity growth—all of it maps well to your skill set. The main shift will be accounting for the physical and management aspects of real estate: property condition, tenant relationships, local regulations, etc.

Here’s a suggestion to get the ball rolling:

Start identifying your buy box—what type of property, in what kind of market, at what price range, and what return metrics you're targeting.

Explore turnkey and value-add rentals, especially in landlord-friendly markets in the Midwest or Southeast (if you're open to investing out of state).

Leverage your network—you may already have contacts in finance or real estate who can connect you with off-market deals, brokers, or investor-friendly lenders.

Once you’re ready to run numbers or evaluate a specific market, happy to walk through the process with you. Do you have a target market or type of property in mind yet?

Best, 

Melissa