22-Year-Old AI Engineer in Erie, PA — Planning First Flip, Looking to Connect
I'm Sami, 22 years old, AI engineer living in Erie, PA. I've spent the last few months studying the Erie market intensely and I'm planning to do my first house flip within the next year or so.
Here's where I'm at:
- Stable W2 income ($85K), aggressively saving toward a $35K+ war chest for my first deal
- Targeting cosmetic-rehab properties in Little Italy, West Bayfront, and the Academy area - $40K-$60K purchase price, $130K-$155K ARV range
- Studying sold comps, driving neighborhoods on weekends, and learning renovation skills through Habitat for Humanity and hands-on practice
- Planning to use hard money financing for the first deal
What makes me a little different: I'm using my AI/software engineering background to build deal analysis tools - automated comp pulling, ARV estimation, distressed property alerts, and rehab cost calculators. I'm building the toolkit I wish existed for small-market investors.
My long-term goal is to build a real estate portfolio over 5-10 years. Flip to build capital, then transition into BRRRR for passive income.
I'm looking to connect with:
- Erie-area investors (flippers, landlords, wholesalers) - I'd love to buy you coffee and hear about your experience in this market
- Contractors who work on residential rehabs in Erie County
- Investor-friendly agents who understand the numbers side, not just the listing side
- Anyone who's done tax sale purchases in Erie County - I'm planning to attend the next one as an observer
In return, I'm happy to share what I'm building on the tech/automation side. If you've ever wished you had a tool that could analyze 50 deals in 10 minutes or alert you the second a new distressed property hits the market, that's exactly what I'm working on.
I'm not looking for handouts or shortcuts - just genuine connections with people who know this market. I'm putting in the work to learn and I know I have a lot to learn from people who've been doing this.
If you're in the Erie area or invest here remotely, drop a comment or shoot me a DM. Always happy to grab coffee or jump on a call.
Thanks for reading - excited to be part of this community.