New homeowner ambitious to expand my portfolio

[Kevin Zapolski]

Hi my name is Kevin, I am 25 and purchased my first property last year which is currently my primary residence. I have one renter in the house with me and hope to spark my portfolio off of this house. 

I am looking to buy another property within the next year or two and I am looking for the best way to approach. I'm looking forward to finding what options are best for me and would be very grateful for any recommendations or suggestions on where to start in this sites massive archive of information. 
 Thanks!

[Melissa Justice]

@Kevin Zapolski,

Hi Kevin, welcome and congrats on getting into the game early - buying your first property at 25 and house hacking with a roommate is a smart move to build equity and cash flow!

Since you're planning to expand your portfolio, a few great next steps would be:
Clarify your investing goals - cash flow, appreciation, BRRRR, short-term rentals, etc.
Research financing options - if you’re still living in your current home, your next property could potentially be another primary residence (with low down payment options), depending on your timeline.
Start analyzing markets - look for landlord-friendly areas with strong rent-to-price ratios and economic fundamentals.
Leverage your current property - in time, you may be able to tap into the equity via HELOC or cash-out refi to fund your next deal.

In terms of this site’s archives, I’d recommend starting with:
The House Hacking threads (you’ve already got experience there!)
The Rookie Real Estate or First 2-5 Deals sections
Searching terms like “second property strategy,” “scaling from house hack,” or “buying next deal with low money down”

You’re off to a great start - feel free to ask questions along the way. Everyone here loves helping newer investors grow.

Best of luck,

Melissa