Newbie from San Jose, California

[Eric Giovannucci]

Well it is time for the paralysis analysis to end. I have essentially had my hand forced into starting my "investing". I am currently still on Active Duty in the US Army, and have been placed on assignment to San Jose, California for recruiting duty (blah). I have been planning on becoming more seriously involved in the real estate investing game, but have been to be brutally honest "scared". I am 25 years old and am married to my beautiful wife Alyson, we have two children together, Anthony (2.5 years old) and Dominic (1 month old) 

Short Term Goals: 

1.)Build a systematic approach to obtaining leads, and converting them into deals prior to starting. I forget where I heard it, but the reason businesses fail and franchises succeed is there "automation and systematized processes". I'd like to believe this will hold true within the real estate investing world as well. 

2.) Learn more through experience, possibly shadow someone local in exchange for some work so that I may get "hands on" knowledge.

3.) Use some of this knowledge I have obtained to use creative financing to obtain a residence for my family in South San Jose area

4.) Complete my first lease option deal prior to January 2015. 

Long Term Goals

1.) Build a solid team in multiple areas to invest in different markets. 

2.) Be able to feel confident in leaving the military to work within real estate full time (preferably investing solely right away, but backup plan is to possibly work as an agent)

I have sought out a paid mentor and he has helped tremendously thus far. However, I want to learn from multiple angles and even people that are within the current market that I will be living (I would like to start working East Bay). I think this forum will provide excellent networking, and would love to attend some local meetings with anyone that is active! 

I look forward to speaking with you all, local and far away, I am extremely grateful to have found this website, and podcasts (they made the drive from El Paso, Texas to San Jose, CA more enjoyable!) 

[Account Closed]

Eric,

Welcome to Biggerpockets.  Thank you very much for your service to this incredible country.  No doubt you have found a great real estate resource.  Just absorb what you can.  Don't feel information overload.  Some stuff may not apply to you now.  Learning is progressive. It builds on itself. Take it one step at the time.  By the time you realized it, you have mastered all trades of real estate.

Let me warn you about investing away from job centers.  Remember that everything in life has a price.  There is no free lunch in the world of economic.  We, as human, tend to gravitate towards the path of least resistance.  Nevertheless, the path of least resistance will likely turn out to be rockier than we have anticipated or prepared for. Once we realized that the grass is not greener on the other side, the damage has been done.  As you already know, a bad financial decision can set us back a decade or much longer.  So tread carefully.