Hello everyone, I'm a freshly separated veteran looking to use my VA (Veterans Affairs) loan to begin my investment journey. I have virtually no solid foundational knowledge base and I plan on making my first purchase in the year 2027-2028. I plan on using this time to educate myself as much as possible. What are some good books or podcasts that you all might recommend? The strategy that I'll be focused on to begin with will be house hacking a multi family property. Thank you in advance!
Welcome! Check out the Biggerpockets Podcast, but take most of what they say with a grain of salt. They are not professionals on everything, so do not take their word as exact fact. But it's a great start to get you introduced to the investing perspective of real estate!
Also, make sure to connect with a mortgage professional to answer all your questions on the VA loans. They are great, but leveraging yourself 100% may not be something you want to get yourself into (it is a great tool if used correctly, but can be devastating if not). Regardless, they are great so making sure you are aware of how to utilize this tool for financing is pivotal to catapulting you into your REI career.
Once you have educated yourself a little, it is important to set realistic expectations. Real Estate Investing can be very lucrative, but it is not a get rich quick scheme (at least for the vast majority of people). Do not compare yourself to others, but compare yourself to your past self. You are taking steps forward to making a better future for yourself and your loved ones; each step is a little bit closer to that goal and just because one step takes longer than the previous/next does not mean you are failing. Just by trying to educate yourself, you have made much more progress than your previous self.
I do VA loans, so feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions, but I wish you well in your investing career!
The Bigger Pockets Podcast is a great way to get started. Also, read The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Keller and Papasan and The ABCs of Real Estate Investing by McElroy. Find meetups in your area. Save $$$.