Wanting to start my real estate investment journey.

San Antonio, Texas
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Wanting to start my real estate investment journey.

JaMart Hill
Member since 2025 · 1 post · 4 votes

My wife and I are both U.S. Army Veterans, wanting to start LLC's to begin are real estate investment journey. Outside of purchasing our house, we have no real estate experience or credentials, yet. We welcome any advice or mentoring on how to properly get started. We are interested in Rental Properties, REIT's, and possibly Commercial Real Estate.

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  • Ryan SpathBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Boise, ID · Member since 2017 · 592 posts · 381 votes
    1y

    First off, thank you both for your service—it’s awesome to see Veterans stepping into the real estate space!

    Education is one of the most important parts of getting started. Before jumping in, taking the time to build a strong foundation can save you from costly mistakes and set you up for long-term success.

    Start by reading some of the top books recommended by BiggerPockets—they have great beginner-friendly guides on rental properties, house hacking, BRRRR, and even commercial investing. Their forums and podcast episodes are also goldmines of free, real-world insight.

    Next, make it a priority to attend local real estate meetups. You'll learn what strategies are working in your area, make connections with other investors, and possibly find mentors willing to share their experience. Don’t underestimate how valuable those relationships can be.

    Also, consider attending real estate seminars or workshops—both national events and local bootcamps. They can give you exposure to different investing strategies and help you narrow down your focus.

    Starting an LLC is a good step, but don't let the structure overshadow the need to understand the game you're getting into. The clearer you are on your goals and the better educated you are, the easier it becomes to take action with confidence.

    If you ever want book recommendations, help with analyzing a deal, or just someone to bounce ideas off, feel free to reach out. Wishing you both the best as you get started!

    [email protected]208-600-2814
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  • Wale LawalBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    1y

    @JaMart Hill

    Thank you both for your service! Starting with rentals is a great entry point—use your VA loan benefit if you haven't already, possibly with a house hack to build experience and cash flow. Forming an LLC is smart for asset protection, but focus first on learning how to analyze deals, markets, and financing. I'd also recommend connecting with local real estate investor groups or meetups, and checking out BiggerPockets to network and get up to speed fast.

    Good luck!

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  • Benjamin AakerPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Brandon, SD · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y
    First decide how active you want to be in your real estate investing. REITs would be on the passive end, owning and managing with a property manager is in the middle, owning and managing yourself on the more active side (I use these as the practical terms, not the IRS terms). As previously posted, do a lot of research first to find your niche. Meanwhile save as much money as you can for the down payment and definitely pursue the VA loan.
    0Reply
  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    1y

    Welcome to BP, you'll find this a great place to assist you on your journey...

    Just my $.02, but I would start small and make it a hands-on effort. This is how you will learn the fastest and have the most control. This would include Flips, STRs, or just having a basic old fashioned rental property that you guys run, manage and take care of....

    Ask a lot of question here on BP. Good luck!

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

    Thank you both for your service! Starting from scratch is how all great investors begin. You're already ahead by being intentional and open to learning.

    Welcome aboard and best of luck investing!
    -Julio

    561-253-6640
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  • Amish Patel
    Rental Property Investor · CA · Member since 2023 · 25 posts · 27 votes
    1y

    Only thing I can say is Just do It!! I love telling people to not rent your first property but buy it.In todays world lots of down payment is needed to make sure you cash flow. If you decide to buy a place live in it for a few years you can take advantage of FHA and lower mortgage rates. Ping me if you want to chat more about this. I love helping others on mistakes and advantages I got from Investing. I'm not an agent/lender just an investor who loves connecting with others in the industry

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  • Kerlous TadresBusiness Member
    Realtor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    A great way to start is by learning the basics books like The Book on Rental Property Investing and the BiggerPockets podcast are super helpful. Take time to understand how to analyze deals, financing options, and the different paths like rentals, REITs, or commercial real estate. Don't rush into forming an LLC; it's often better to wait until you're clearer on your strategy a quick conversation with a CPA or real estate attorney can go a long way. One huge advantage you have is the VA loan, which you can potentially use to buy a 2–4 unit property, live in one unit, and rent out the others this strategy (house hacking) is a solid way to start building cash flow. Real estate is all about relationships, so start networking with other investors and veterans through local meetups or online communities.

    [email protected]614-490-1163
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  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 13k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    1y

    Start attending local or online investor group meetings, so you can learn what you don't know!

    [email protected]248-209-6824
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  • Ryan RomingerBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 340 posts · 144 votes
    1y

    Thank you for your service! I really respect the initiative you and your wife are taking. A lot of people talk about getting into real estate, but few actually take the first steps—and forming an LLC and thinking through your strategy shows you're serious. I've seen a lot of investors who started with no formal experience, just a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn. For me, that's more valuable than any credential, especially in this business.

    There's a lot of great advice here in BP but I'd like to give my thoughts as well.

    Get focused on one path first. Rental properties are usually the best entry point—they’re tangible, you can control them directly, and you learn a lot fast. REITs are a good way to get exposure with less hands-on work, but they’re more like stock investments. Commercial real estate is great but often better once you’ve had a few deals under your belt.

    Use your VA loan if you haven’t. It’s one of the best tools available—possibly allowing you to buy a multi-unit property with no money down. Live in one unit, rent the others, and start building equity and income.

    Connect with investor-friendly professionals. That includes a Realtor who knows the local investment landscape, a lender who understands VA and investor financing, and a property manager who can break down real-life rental numbers—not just theory.

    Get your hands on actual deals. Even if you’re not ready to buy just yet, practice analyzing real listings. Figure out what the rents are, what the expenses would be, and how the numbers work. That’s where everything starts to click.

    The good news is, you don’t need to have it all figured out to take your first step. You just need to move with intention and surround yourselves with the right people.

    [email protected]317-935-0075
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  • Tenzapa Wakombe
    Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2025 · 126 posts · 62 votes
    1y

    Welcome, and thank you both for your service! You’re taking a great first step just by getting involved and asking questions. I’d recommend starting with some solid foundational education—BiggerPockets forums, podcasts, and books are great.

    For rentals, maybe look into house hacking or small multifamily to get started. And forming your LLCs early is smart, but make sure it aligns with your overall investment and tax strategy—an investor-friendly CPA can help with that.

    Feel free to DM me if you ever want to talk shop or need help finding resources. Wishing you both the best on your journey!

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