Accountant, looking to get into investing

Ryan SpathBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Boise, ID · Member since 2017 · 575 posts · 379 votes

Welcome to the community, Adam and thank you for your service.

You’ve got a really strong foundation coming from finance and accounting. Being able to analyze deals, understand risk, and think long term is a huge advantage in real estate. Pair that with your mindset of wanting to do this thoughtfully and not rush into things, and you’re already ahead of a lot of people just getting started.

One thing I’d caution you on is wholesaling. It can absolutely be a great way to learn the business, but the people who do it successfully at scale are treating it like a full-time job. It’s very lead-generation heavy, requires constant follow-up, and is more of a volume game than most people expect. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it, but it’s important to go in understanding what it really takes.

Given that you already have a stable income, you might be in a better position to take a more straightforward path to building long-term wealth. Instead of chasing deals, you could focus on saving capital and buying a primary residence every couple of years, then turning each one into a rental. Over time, that approach can quietly build a solid portfolio, especially if each property at least breaks even or produces some cash flow.

If you don’t own a property yet, house hacking is worth serious consideration as a first step. It’s one of the most efficient ways to get started, since you can live in the property while having tenants offset your mortgage, all while gaining real, hands-on experience.

Either way, you’re approaching this the right way.

[email protected]208-600-2814

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Adam Fenner
OP
Accountant · Member since 2018 · 26 posts · 10 votes
6mo
Quote from @Ryan Spath:

Welcome to the community, Adam and thank you for your service.

You’ve got a really strong foundation coming from finance and accounting. Being able to analyze deals, understand risk, and think long term is a huge advantage in real estate. Pair that with your mindset of wanting to do this thoughtfully and not rush into things, and you’re already ahead of a lot of people just getting started.

One thing I’d caution you on is wholesaling. It can absolutely be a great way to learn the business, but the people who do it successfully at scale are treating it like a full-time job. It’s very lead-generation heavy, requires constant follow-up, and is more of a volume game than most people expect. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it, but it’s important to go in understanding what it really takes.

Given that you already have a stable income, you might be in a better position to take a more straightforward path to building long-term wealth. Instead of chasing deals, you could focus on saving capital and buying a primary residence every couple of years, then turning each one into a rental. Over time, that approach can quietly build a solid portfolio, especially if each property at least breaks even or produces some cash flow.

If you don’t own a property yet, house hacking is worth serious consideration as a first step. It’s one of the most efficient ways to get started, since you can live in the property while having tenants offset your mortgage, all while gaining real, hands-on experience.

Either way, you’re approaching this the right way.

Ryan, I really appreciate the feedback. I've been seeing a lot of caution on the wholesaling within the forums. It validates the concerns I've had.

Also thinking about getting a license and using that as an in to build experience, start building a network while building capital. Very open for feedback, as I figure out first steps beyond education. Have you found your license is more value add in that regard or a distraction?
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Ryan SpathBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Boise, ID · Member since 2017 · 575 posts · 379 votes
6mo
@Adam Fenner for me the license is a value add. I got it to be able to help others. Having access to the MLS is amazing as you have a pulse on the market based on the data. You also get access to property information first. Definitely enjoy it.
[email protected]208-600-2814
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Adam Fenner
OP
Accountant · Member since 2018 · 26 posts · 10 votes
6mo
@Ryan Spath I appreciate that and that makes a lot of sense. It is a commitment and can create some transactional complexity when acting on your own behalf but there is definitely value.
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Stephen QuesinberryBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Cumming, GA · Member since 2016 · 226 posts · 157 votes

6mo

Adam — welcome, and appreciate your service. I’m an Army veteran as well and have been an investor for about 10 years now since I got out!

You’re in a great spot with your background and the way you’re thinking about this. The biggest thing I’d recommend early on is staying consistent and not trying to learn every strategy at once.

Wholesaling can be a good way to get reps, but regardless of the path you choose, I’d focus on narrowing things down a bit. Pick a couple submarkets you can understand well, define a simple buy box, and start looking at deals regularly. Even if you’re not ready to transact yet, that repetition is what builds your confidence and helps you recognize what actually makes a deal work.

You already have a strong analytical skill set, so the next step is just pairing that with real-world reps. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns in pricing, rents, and opportunities, and things will begin to click.

Happy to connect and help however I can. Always good to meet other veterans in the space.

Cornerstone Real Estate Partners

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Adam Fenner
OP
Accountant · Member since 2018 · 26 posts · 10 votes
6mo
Quote from @Stephen Quesinberry:

Adam — welcome, and appreciate your service. I’m an Army veteran as well and have been an investor for about 10 years now since I got out!

You’re in a great spot with your background and the way you’re thinking about this. The biggest thing I’d recommend early on is staying consistent and not trying to learn every strategy at once.

Wholesaling can be a good way to get reps, but regardless of the path you choose, I’d focus on narrowing things down a bit. Pick a couple submarkets you can understand well, define a simple buy box, and start looking at deals regularly. Even if you’re not ready to transact yet, that repetition is what builds your confidence and helps you recognize what actually makes a deal work.

You already have a strong analytical skill set, so the next step is just pairing that with real-world reps. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns in pricing, rents, and opportunities, and things will begin to click.

Happy to connect and help however I can. Always good to meet other veterans in the space.
Stephen

Always great to talk to vets.

Getting in the reps is really the thing I keep reading, stepping past the talk and making mistakes. Or as we've affectionately titled them, "Learning opportunities."

Have you found your license helped you as you got into investing?

The nice thing about a full time job is that I'm paying my bills. I'm also considering the license route to use commissions to fund future deals and network with other investors. But balancing the license requirements I worry about.
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Stephen QuesinberryBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Cumming, GA · Member since 2016 · 226 posts · 157 votes
6mo
Quote from @Adam Fenner:

Quote from @Stephen Quesinberry:

Adam — welcome, and appreciate your service. I’m an Army veteran as well and have been an investor for about 10 years now since I got out!

You’re in a great spot with your background and the way you’re thinking about this. The biggest thing I’d recommend early on is staying consistent and not trying to learn every strategy at once.

Wholesaling can be a good way to get reps, but regardless of the path you choose, I’d focus on narrowing things down a bit. Pick a couple submarkets you can understand well, define a simple buy box, and start looking at deals regularly. Even if you’re not ready to transact yet, that repetition is what builds your confidence and helps you recognize what actually makes a deal work.

You already have a strong analytical skill set, so the next step is just pairing that with real-world reps. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns in pricing, rents, and opportunities, and things will begin to click.

Happy to connect and help however I can. Always good to meet other veterans in the space.
Stephen

Always great to talk to vets.

Getting in the reps is really the thing I keep reading, stepping past the talk and making mistakes. Or as we've affectionately titled them, "Learning opportunities."

Have you found your license helped you as you got into investing?

The nice thing about a full time job is that I'm paying my bills. I'm also considering the license route to use commissions to fund future deals and network with other investors. But balancing the license requirements I worry about.

Having an agent license and MLS is definitely a positive, but it can be distracting, especially if you have a full time job already. I did not start out this way, but gradually added it later. I'd say it really depends on the demands of your W2 and getting into investment real estate will take alot of effort as it is.
Cornerstone Real Estate Partners
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Adam Fenner

OP

Accountant · Member since 2018 · 26 posts · 10 votes

6mo

Quote from @Yousef Sammour:

If you are ever interested to learn more about investing in Texas, happy to meet! We have great investment opportunities all across Texas and Florida in ground up Retail development.

Yousef, I really appreciate it, thank you.

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Arman AhmedPro Member

Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 957 votes

6mo

Quote from @Adam Fenner:

Hi everyone,

I’m Adam, based in the Northwest Georgia area. I’ve been lurking on BiggerPockets for a bit and finally decided it’s time to introduce myself and start engaging more.

By day, I work in corporate finance & accounting (CPA, but I have never been good with taxes) with a comfortable job. I’m grateful for the stability it provides, but I’m looking to expand my income sources and eventually transition away from the 9-5 grind. Though I’m in no rush and want to do this thoughtfully and sustainably.

I’m brand new to real estate investing and very humble about my current skill level. My strengths right now are mainly in analysis and learning quickly, but I know I have a lot to learn about the practical side of the business. I’m considering starting with wholesaling as a way to build real-world experience, finding motivated sellers, running numbers, negotiating, build a team, and starting capital. Possibly by partnering with someone more experienced or working for sweat equity to learn the ropes. My longer-term goals are to move into flipping and rental properties once I have some solid experience under my belt. But I'm throwing myself out here to learn.

I’d love to connect with folks in the Georgia/Tennessee area or anyone willing to share advice on getting started ethically and building skills the right way. I frequently travel for work to Phoenix, SoCal, and New Jersey. Happy to contribute where I can (even if it’s just helping with basic analysis questions) and looking forward to being part of this community.

Thanks in advance for the team's guidance and support.

Side note I'm a retired Army veteran and always happy to connect with veterans in any community.

Best, Adam

You’re in a strong position coming from finance, being able to underwrite deals correctly is already a big advantage most beginners don’t have. If your goal is to transition from analysis into real execution, wholesaling can definitely get you reps, but don’t overlook going straight into small cash-flowing rentals too, especially if you’re open to out-of-state investing. A lot of investors in your situation end up looking at Midwest markets, where the numbers are more forgiving, deals are more straightforward to analyze, and you can actually find under-valued opportunities that still make sense after repairs and management. With your background, you’d likely pick it up faster than you think once you start working real deals instead of just spreadsheets.

[email protected]614-418-6081

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Adam Fenner
OP
Accountant · Member since 2018 · 26 posts · 10 votes
6mo
Quote from @Arman Ahmed:

Quote from @Adam Fenner:

Hi everyone,

I’m Adam, based in the Northwest Georgia area. I’ve been lurking on BiggerPockets for a bit and finally decided it’s time to introduce myself and start engaging more.

By day, I work in corporate finance & accounting (CPA, but I have never been good with taxes) with a comfortable job. I’m grateful for the stability it provides, but I’m looking to expand my income sources and eventually transition away from the 9-5 grind. Though I’m in no rush and want to do this thoughtfully and sustainably.

I’m brand new to real estate investing and very humble about my current skill level. My strengths right now are mainly in analysis and learning quickly, but I know I have a lot to learn about the practical side of the business. I’m considering starting with wholesaling as a way to build real-world experience, finding motivated sellers, running numbers, negotiating, build a team, and starting capital. Possibly by partnering with someone more experienced or working for sweat equity to learn the ropes. My longer-term goals are to move into flipping and rental properties once I have some solid experience under my belt. But I'm throwing myself out here to learn.

I’d love to connect with folks in the Georgia/Tennessee area or anyone willing to share advice on getting started ethically and building skills the right way. I frequently travel for work to Phoenix, SoCal, and New Jersey. Happy to contribute where I can (even if it’s just helping with basic analysis questions) and looking forward to being part of this community.

Thanks in advance for the team's guidance and support.
Side note I'm a retired Army veteran and always happy to connect with veterans in any community.

Best, Adam

You’re in a strong position coming from finance, being able to underwrite deals correctly is already a big advantage most beginners don’t have. If your goal is to transition from analysis into real execution, wholesaling can definitely get you reps, but don’t overlook going straight into small cash-flowing rentals too, especially if you’re open to out-of-state investing. A lot of investors in your situation end up looking at Midwest markets, where the numbers are more forgiving, deals are more straightforward to analyze, and you can actually find under-valued opportunities that still make sense after repairs and management. With your background, you’d likely pick it up faster than you think once you start working real deals instead of just spreadsheets.

Arman, that is good feedback. I hadn't thought about looking into the Midwest. I was really going to target regional. But a lot of why I'm here is to network and be able to be successful in those types of out of state details.
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Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member

Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

6mo

Welcome! I'd encourage you to visit local meetups and get involved locally. With presumably a decent w-2 job, could you opt for house hacking? To me that's the best strategy if you're able to. If not, wholesaling is not a bad option but requires more work than you think and is not for the faint of heart. There's likely going to be a lot of competition but perhaps your area is different.

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Accountant, looking to get into investing

Accountant, looking to get into investing

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