New Member from College Station TX/ Huntington Beach, CA

New Member Introductions

New Member from College Station TX/ Huntington Beach, CA

Rental Property Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 36 posts · 18 votes

Hi my name is Jenna Stark and I am finishing my degree in Business at Texas A&M this semester. I grew up in Huntington Beach, CA and I came to Texas to play softball at Texas A&M. My mom and I are partners in a small business that we opened in Huntington Beach CA, so this is where I will be moving when I am done with school. I have a real passion for Real Estate and my parents do as well, I was taking the approach of saving as much as possible to have enough for a down payment before I am 24 (22 now). Yet with my graduation coming up quick I can not help but feel like I am leaving an awesome market in TX, to a very challenging market in southern California.

Maybe I need to get creative and make a move now? Either way I figured it was time I introduce myself, and say thank you to everyone who gives such incredible information on this website.

It did take listening to every single podcast before I posted on here, but I feel like I am learning more and more everyday! Thank you everyone for this great community.

Gig 'em and God Bless

Sincerely,

A 22 year old who has lots of Dreams!

Jenna Stark

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Most Popular Reply

Investor · Fayetteville, NC · Member since 2014 · 916 posts · 190 votes

11y

Welcome to Bigger Pockets @Jenna Stark !

Keep those dreams alive and believe! Good luck with your schooling and investing.

See this reply in the discussion

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Dave VisayaPro Member
Moderator
Audio Engineer and Investor · Cebu City, Cebu · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 881 votes
11y
Hey @Jenna Stark welcome to the site! It's great to have you and yeah smart idea on the podcast!
0 Reply
Chaz Reid
Investor · Fayetteville, NC · Member since 2014 · 916 posts · 190 votes
11y
Welcome to Bigger Pockets @Jenna Stark !
Keep those dreams alive and believe! Good luck with your schooling and investing.
1 Reply
Larry Fried
Investor/RE Broker · Eugene, OR · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 968 votes
11y
@Jenna Stark Hi and welcome to BP! Dream big and act accordingly.
0 Reply
Jon Klaus
Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
11y
Welcome to BiggerPockets, Jenna. Congrats on finishing school shortly, and even more so for listening to all the podcasts! You are committed. We're glad you've joined us and look forward to following your progress.
1 Reply
Jenna Stark
OP
Rental Property Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 36 posts · 18 votes
11y
Thank you for the encouragement from everyone, This community gives as much as you put into it!! The possibilities are endless! Thank you
@Jon Klaus Fellow texan (yes I have been here long enough to call myself a texan) Thank you for taking the time to respond and encourage me!
1 Reply
Ali Boone
Real Estate Coach · Venice Beach, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y
Hey Jenna! What position do you play? Very cool you went out there for that, although I'm sure you miss the beach. I moved the reverse- from the south (Atlanta) to CA (Venice Beach) and I can't imagine leaving CA now. Cool you'll be able to come back.
As far as investing, you don't have to live where you invest. I have multiple properties in Atlanta, and I didn't even have them until I was living in CA (except one). Especially being outside of CA right now, you can scout around, check things out, and that way when you are ready to buy, you can buy no matter where you are living. All it takes is a good property manager to handle the properties once you aren't living there. That's what I do.
So, I wouldn't rush yourself. You certainly can, and buy something quick, but you won't lose out if you don't get it right now or before you leave. It's all totally doable.
1 Reply
James Stevens
Contractor · Temple, TX · Member since 2014 · 379 posts · 164 votes
11y
Hi @Jenna Stark welcome to Bigger Pockets. There are a lot of great people and ideas on here to help you achieve your goals. Also, have you looked in to going to some meetings with the "Brazos Real Estate Investors Club?" Below is a link to there page on meetup.
http://www.meetup.com/Brazos-Real-Estate-Investors...
0 Reply
Jenna Stark
OP
Rental Property Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 36 posts · 18 votes
11y
@Ali Boone
HI! I played second base for them, and now I am a 5th year student coach for the softball program. It was so fun, and now I have lots of excess energy to put towards real estate!!
This is wonderful advice, I think that college station would be fun to invest simply because I lived here long enough to understand the area even once I leave. I would be able to invest a lot earlier in my career as opposed to trying to save enough to buy in California!
Do you also invest in CA? I know everyone says its possible to invest everywhere no matter where you live, just a little worried about the barrier to entry because of the high prices in Southern California.
Thanks for taking the time to respond!
Gig 'Em and God Bless
Jenna Stark
0 Reply
Ali Boone
Real Estate Coach · Venice Beach, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y
Nice! I played 2nd and short when I played softball, but eventually when I started playing with huge people that could bat the balls at mach 1 into my stomach, I moved to outfield and enjoyed it quite nicely :) Lol. (I really just got lazy with it and stopped playing competitively, and okay I had moved on to casual leagues where drinking was the pre-game ritual....that's when I decided outfield was safe and fun. ha)
I don't invest in CA at all. All my properties are out-of-state. The entry prices here are atrocious, but more than that, the numbers don't work out for cash flow anyway. If cash flow is what you want, you'll be negative out here. My stance on CA is that you can either 1. flip (and high capital flipping at that) or 2. buy for appreciation. Anything outside of that, and you are likely not going to be looking at a lot of profit.
0 Reply
Jenna Stark
OP
Rental Property Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 36 posts · 18 votes
11y
@James Stevens I have been trying to get to one of those for a month now, but I work at night since I am a student and coach during the day. I know I would learn a lot, maybe I can call in sick one night and make it to a meeting! I hear great things about that particular meet up!!
1 Reply
Account Closed
Investor · Honolulu, HI · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
11y
Originally posted by @Ali Boone:

I don't invest in CA at all. All my properties are out-of-state. The entry prices here are atrocious,
Ali, I"ve seen your posts that say you would love to have a home in CA. Why don't your cash flow properties enable you to buy in CA instead of throwing away your money on rent?
0 Reply
Jenna Stark
OP
Rental Property Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 36 posts · 18 votes
11y
@Ali Boone That made me lol! I think I have a few slow pitch games in my near future as well! Playing competitively in the SEC for 4 years was plenty! I would love to go out and play for fun!
I think that is a smart decision you have made, I am really interested in commercial (Retail, not residential) Since that is what my parents have always invested in, that is what I am most comfortable and familiar with. However that being said, it can be challenging to get that much capital as a 22 year old. So doing some out of state investing first might be an awesome way to go!
0 Reply
Matt G.
Rental Property Investor · Dallas · Member since 2012 · 107 posts · 69 votes
11y
Originally posted by @Jenna Stark:

@James Stevens I have been trying to get to one of those for a month now, but I work at night since I am a student and coach during the day. I know I would learn a lot, maybe I can call in sick one night and make it to a meeting! I hear great things about that particular meet up!!
The meeting this month will be held on a Thursday night instead of the usual Tuesday. Also once a month on a Thursday afternoon a few of the people in the group have a happy hour meetup to discuss deals they might have or just to hang out. The next happy hour meeting is March 12 at 4 pm, location to be announced. I haven't been to the happy hour meetups but the regular monthly meetings are good.
Gig 'em!
1 Reply
Ali Boone
Real Estate Coach · Venice Beach, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y
@Account Closed
It's not about being enabled to buy a property here... I don't currently want to buy a property here.
0 Reply
Ali Boone
Real Estate Coach · Venice Beach, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y
Haha...I can't imagine playing SEC ball! Slow pitch would definitely be a fun recreational alternative...or a REALLY boring one. Ha.
I think you are on a great track for investing! Congrats on getting started early. Most of us didn't do that, but at least I know I wish I had!
0 Reply
Account Closed
Investor · Honolulu, HI · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
11y
Originally posted by @Ali Boone:

@Account Closed
It's not about being enabled to buy a property here... I don't currently want to buy a property here.
You're not the Ali Boone that posted recently about wanting to have a California house? I thought we resolved that "doppelgamer" Ali Boone that was posting about cap rates that then turned out to be you.
0 Reply
Matt R.
Sherman Oaks, CA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
11y
Welcome to BP! Man, College Station would be an awesome place to invest I would think. However commercial Cali might even be better so you got to be stoked that way! My buddy just sold his Studio City Multi to do some NNN. He is loving it - 10 years cash flow coming no fuss no muss.
BTW, I played catcher for 10 years but I was supposed to play second base. I still never understood why girls play softball these days. First off, there is nothing soft about that ball and folks, girls can play regular baseball as good as the boys! We should get a BP team going one day. Good luck with your search!
0 Reply
Jenna Stark
OP
Rental Property Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 36 posts · 18 votes
11y
@Matt R. Yes I think I have some good options! Its all about being a good investor no matter where you are right?! So i am confident if I am humble and keep learning/grinding I will be able to make it work wherever I am!
Catcher is TOUGH, props to you! I was a middle infielder all the way!! I always thought it would be fun to see girls play baseball! Softball is Fast with how close the bases are and all that good stuff, but its the best sport in the world if you ask me!! Will always be my first love!
BP team all the way!! We already have two positions covered!
I love the feedback about NNN, not that I am afraid of hard work by any means, but if I could start my career with NNN, and make it my person niche I think that would be pretty legit. I look forward to the day where I can be a fellow California investor with you, Thank you for taking the time to respond!
Gig 'em and God Bless
Jenna Stark
2 Reply
James Ross
Real Estate Investor · Long Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 12 posts · 1 vote
11y
Welcome to BP Jenna. I admire your level of commitment. If you are looking to get involved in California we would love to help and guide you anyway we can. Message me and we can chat.
James
0 Reply
Matt R.
Sherman Oaks, CA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
11y
For sure young lady! It is all good with the softball:) Now girls have to have quicker reaction times than the men. I don't have to tell you. These chicks can pitch!

You must be one hell of a player either way! So yeah, I am unofficially, officially drafting you:)

0 Reply
Jenna Stark
OP
Rental Property Investor · Huntington Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 36 posts · 18 votes
11y
@James Ross Thank you so much I will be sure to do that!!
0 Reply
Ali Boone
Real Estate Coach · Venice Beach, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y
@Account Closed
This is a weird argument, but to humor it... I would love to own CA property eventually. That doesn't mean, however, I want to do it right now. Not sure what else to tell you about it, other than- seriously, if you have such a petty issue with something I say, don't take up someone's forum chain with it... be a big boy and message me directly.
0 Reply
Brandon TurnerPro Member
Investor · Maui, HI · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y
Hey @Jenna Stark Welcome! It’s great to have you on board. It's great that you are listening to the Podcasts!
Oh - and be sure to set up some keyword alerts - especially for "Huntington Beach" so you'll be notified when people mention it here in the forums.
Thanks again for introducing yourself!
Podcast Guest on Show #92
0 Reply
Dmitriy Fomichenko
Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
11y
Welcome to BP community @Jenna Stark It is a great place to meet new friends and learn about various aspects of real estate and more.
Wishing you the best!
0 Reply
Ryan Huebinger
Investor · Granbury, TX · Member since 2014 · 13 posts · 4 votes
11y
@Jenna Stark
Welcome Jenna! And congrats on starting this investment thing early. My one rental is my old house from grad school in North Bryan (Tabor road area). I look back now and wish I would have started investing in real estate when I graduated from the greatest university in the state of Texas from my undergrad in the late 90s.
Man have things changed in that area, even since I left almost 8 years ago after grad school. The one thing that will not change, is the university is not moving and there will always be a robust rental market, especially with Blinn having such a large presence in BCS.
There is a lot of great knowledge here, and it sounds like you have already taken advantage of the resources the BP group has put together.
Gig'em
Ryan
Class of '96 and '07
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