Newbie looking to get into real estate investment

[Kaushik Kesani]

I'm Kaushik, i live in Jacksonville, Fl along with my wife and 2 daughters (2ys and 2 months). I've been thinking about wealth building through real estate and i've been doing some research for a couple of months (on and off) and thank god i found bigger pockets. I've going through the Forums and i'm amazed by the wealth of information i can find here.

I've saved up about ~50K (outside my Emergency Funds) to buy my first house, but i backed off because Jax has limited opportunities in my area of work and I'm not sure if i am going to live here long-term. I've been looking for work opportunities in other states. So, i've been thinking about using this saved up money to buy my first rental.

I'm not a very handy person. I'm interested in turn key properties and built to rent kind of properties. I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions on my current situation and any guidance on how do i move forward

[Melissa Justice]

@Kaushik Kesani,

Hi Kaushik! It sounds like you’re in a great position to get started! With $50K ready for your first investment and your interest in turnkey or built-to-rent properties, you’re already set up for a smoother first deal, especially if you want a more hands-off approach.

Since you’re not looking to do major renovations yourself, I’d focus on markets with strong cash flow and affordable property prices, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast. These regions have plenty of turnkey single-family rentals that are already leased, with property management systems in place, so you can start generating income immediately without needing to be local or do repairs yourself.

A few tips to move forward:

Choose your market first – Look for cities with strong tenant demand, low vacancy rates, and landlord-friendly laws. States like Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas are solid for first-time turnkey investors.

Work with an investor-friendly property source provider company – They can help you vet properties, handle leasing, and manage tenants from a distance.

Consider financing vs cash – With $50K, you could put 20–25% down on a property in many Midwest/Southeast markets and still have cash reserves. Sometimes builders or sellers offer incentives that can be used for rate buydowns or post-close cash back, which can improve your cash flow from day one.

Start simple – Your first property is about learning the process, generating steady cash flow, and building a foundation for future investments.

Happy to share specific markets and property types that have worked for other investors. Best of luck!