Trying to learn more about real estate investing

Charlotte, North Carolina
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Trying to learn more about real estate investing

Linda Luna
NC · Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 3 votes

Hi, my name is Linda, I am currently a CNC machinist working as a contractor in New Hampshire. My home residence is in Troutman, NC, so I am really interested in starting my real estate investing in the Charlotte area. While working as a contractor in my current field I travel to different states and work for companies when they need extra help, this has peaked my interest in short term rentals because that is mostly what I use while out state. I want to start with short term rentals/air bnbs and move into long term rentals and some flips. I'm happy to join this group, I look forward to meeting people and all the information and learning I can receive.

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Melissa JusticeBusiness Member
Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2024 · 518 posts · 1k+ votes
1y

@Linda Luna,

Welcome, Linda! It sounds like you’ve got a great mix of curiosity and motivation - perfect for starting in real estate. I would highly recommend starting with turnkey long-term rentals which can be a smoother entry point than STRs for a few reasons:

Immediate cash flow: Many turnkey properties come pre-leased, so you start earning income right away without the wait or marketing effort.

Lower hands-on management: LTRs are easier to manage remotely than STRs, which require constant turnover, cleaning, and guest coordination. You are essentially in the hospitality business..

Financing & risk: Lenders are usually more comfortable with LTRs, and the income tends to be more stable, which helps build equity and credit for future investments.

Foundation for growth: Once you have experience with LTRs, building a team, managing tenants, and understanding local markets, it’s much easier to branch into STRs or flips if you want to diversify.

There are plenty of turnkey LTR options in surrounding markets in the Southeast where cash flow can be stronger and the learning curve gentler. Starting here can help you grow confidence and experience before taking on the more time-intensive STR market.

Excited for your journey - happy to connect if you want to talk about what's worked for other investors. Best of luck!

[email protected]313-221-8718
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  • Jason WrayPro Member
    Banker · Nationwide · Member since 2020 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    Linda,

    Feel free to reach out if you have any questions I can help offer some tough to learn and tip that can help you avoid lost time and money.  Check out my profile and send me over an email.

    [email protected]727-637-4289
    0Reply
  • Andrew PostellPro Member
    Lender · Fort Worth, TX · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    1y

    @Linda Luna thanks for the post!  I wish that Bigger Pockets was around when I got started.  It was really difficult to find anyone that was an investor.  However, now, we have multiple outlets that can help us connect with others.  So, let's try some local real estate meetup groups. Meetup.com is a good resource for those but some of the groups will also post here on Bigger Pockets Marketplace too. Even facebook might have some good local groups for you. Some of those facebook groups have thousands of members. The priority is consistent recommendations from active investors. Oh, eventbrite too. But post locally for this. That’s the best bet.

    0Reply
  • Richard Dale-Mesaros
    Investor · Campton, NH · Member since 2010 · 284 posts · 142 votes
    1y

    You should look up Karl Spielvogel, he's in your area, would be a great connection! 🏡👍😁

    0Reply
  • Steven GlickBusiness Member
    Lender · Buffalo · Member since 2024 · 115 posts · 33 votes
    1y

    Welcome to BiggerPockets, Linda! If you have questions about investing or want to explore financing options tailored for STR investors, feel free to reach out, happy to help you with what works best for you.

    [email protected]315-631-0678
    Ziffy Mortgage
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • E.J. McCaffrey
    Member since 2025 · 194 posts · 140 votes
    1y

    Welcome to the group.

    Regardless of the type of investing you're focused on, two of the most critical, yet often overlooked, pillars of long-term success are tax planning and asset protection. It’s easy to get swept up in the thrill of sourcing and closing deals, but without a strong foundation in these areas, your growth may be at risk.

    An effective tax strategy helps you optimize deductions, leverage advantageous tax structures, and retain more of your earnings. By thinking ahead, you can lower your overall tax burden and gain greater flexibility for future investments.

    Equally important is protecting the wealth you’re working to build. Real estate and other investments come with inherent risks, including potential legal claims and creditor issues. Without proper legal structuring, both your personal and business assets could be exposed. A well-crafted asset protection plan helps limit liability, preserve your wealth, and position you more securely in the face of legal challenges.

    To navigate both areas with confidence, it's essential to work with experienced professionals, including a tax advisor who understands real estate and an asset protection attorney aligned with your long-term objectives. Making these connections early can help you avoid costly pitfalls and give you peace of mind as your portfolio expands.

    Wishing you success.

    Disclaimer: This message is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. No attorney-client, fiduciary, or advisory relationship is created by this communication. Always consult with qualified professionals familiar with your specific situation before making any decisions.

    1Reply
  • Thomas Mulroy
    Member since 2025 · 3 posts · 1 vote
    1y

    Hey Linda, welcome to the real estate investing area of Charlotte. Fix and flips as well as rentals usually are a great way to start in the area and you will find that the community is more than willing to help. I hope that you feel comfortable reaching out to members in this forum as well as others.

    0Reply
  • Muhammad Danish
    Property Manager · Tampa Florida, USA · Member since 2025 · 71 posts · 2 votes
    1y

    Hi Linda,

    Welcome to BiggerPockets! 👋 It’s great to see you exploring real estate investing, especially in the Charlotte area. Short-term rentals are a great way to start and build cash flow — and eventually move into flips and long-term rentals just like you mentioned.

    I also work in finding and connecting great opportunities (land and properties) with the right buyers and investors. If you ever want to discuss Charlotte-area opportunities, or get insights on finding good deals for STRs, feel free to connect with me.

    Wishing you lots of success as you get started!

    0Reply
  • Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
    CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    Welcome, Linda. Great to see you looking at short-term rentals (STRs) as a first step, especially given your travel background. From a tax perspective, STRs are unique because they can be treated very differently than long-term rentals, and that can open the door to powerful deductions and planning strategies as you grow into flips and traditional rentals later.

    Key tax points to keep in mind as you start:

    • Short-term rental income (average stays of 7 days or less) is generally treated as Non passive income, not passive, so you may avoid passive loss limitations that normally restrict rental deductions.
    • Because STRs are considered a business, you may be able to take accelerated depreciation or even use cost segregation to front-load deductions against your active income.
    • If you materially participate in managing the property (screening guests, coordinating cleaning, handling bookings), losses can often offset W-2 or contractor income, a major tax advantage early on.
    • As you expand into flips, know that flips are taxed as ordinary active income (similar to your contractor work), not capital gains. Setting up the right entity (LLC with possible S-Corp election) can help reduce self-employment tax exposure.
    • Long-term rentals reintroduce passive activity rules, but combining them with STRs or qualifying as a real estate professional in the future can unlock additional tax strategies.
    • Regardless of the path, detailed recordkeeping of travel, supplies, contractor payments, and property expenses will be critical to maximize deductions and defend them in an audit.

    Starting with STRs is a strong move because the tax code gives you more flexibility to use losses and deductions against your active contractor income while you build equity. Over time, adding flips and long-term rentals creates a well-rounded portfolio where you can layer in strategies like cost segregation, 1031 exchanges, and entity structuring for even greater tax efficiency.


    This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship. The information contained in this post is not to be relied upon. Readers should seek professional advice.

    [email protected]941-914-7779
    INVESTOR FRIENDLY CPA®5241 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    TaxMD™ | AI-Powered Tax Planning
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • Austin Reardon
    Member since 2025 · 1 post · 0 votes
    1y

    Hey Linda, I also moved from New England down to Charlotte! 

    If you’re going to do short-term rentals, it’s important to know the rules for the town and county you’re buying in so you have a clear idea of where you want to purchase. The next thing to focus on is what level of rehab you’re comfortable with and what you estimate it will cost. And maybe most important of all, make sure your financing is lined up before moving forward with either of those.

    I work with investors at all stages, from first-time buyers to experienced flippers, and my job is to match people with properties that fit their strategy. If you have any questions I will help you anyway I can!

    0Reply
  • Melissa JusticeBusiness Member
    Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2024 · 518 posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    @Linda Luna,

    Welcome, Linda! It sounds like you’ve got a great mix of curiosity and motivation - perfect for starting in real estate. I would highly recommend starting with turnkey long-term rentals which can be a smoother entry point than STRs for a few reasons:

    Immediate cash flow: Many turnkey properties come pre-leased, so you start earning income right away without the wait or marketing effort.

    Lower hands-on management: LTRs are easier to manage remotely than STRs, which require constant turnover, cleaning, and guest coordination. You are essentially in the hospitality business..

    Financing & risk: Lenders are usually more comfortable with LTRs, and the income tends to be more stable, which helps build equity and credit for future investments.

    Foundation for growth: Once you have experience with LTRs, building a team, managing tenants, and understanding local markets, it’s much easier to branch into STRs or flips if you want to diversify.

    There are plenty of turnkey LTR options in surrounding markets in the Southeast where cash flow can be stronger and the learning curve gentler. Starting here can help you grow confidence and experience before taking on the more time-intensive STR market.

    Excited for your journey - happy to connect if you want to talk about what's worked for other investors. Best of luck!

    [email protected]313-221-8718
    3Reply
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