New Real Estate Investor

New Member Introductions
11yFollow

New Real Estate Investor

Monique Correia
Investor · Laguna Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 4 votes

Hello BP community,

My name is Alex, and I'm happy to be here!  It's a pleasure to be with all of you who are taking massive action.  I am relatively new to real estate investing. I have 1/2 duplex in Arlington, Texas, which I acquired while working in the media/tech industry in Los Angeles.  In 2014, another great job offer in the media industry helped convince me to relocate to Manhattan NY, but I have quickly grown tired of contributing to someone else's "baby".  Enough of the rat race!  My wife and I are relocating to Arlington TX later this summer to get involved with real estate full time in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and we are so excited.  

I've been reading BP for a little while now, but only recently signed up.  I'm still amazed at the amount of great real estate investment information offered here.  Priceless!

Happy to meet you all virtually, and would love to connect with others in the Dallas area.

Best,

Alex

2Reply
75 views

Most Popular Reply

Scott Beck
Investor · Murphy, TX · Member since 2015 · 145 posts · 53 votes
11y

@Alex White

Hi Alex. Welcome to BP.

There are many REI meetings in the DFW metroplex. Since I live in Murphy (northeast of Dallas) the closest REI group to me is the North Texas Association if Real Estate Investors (http://ntarei.com/). They have monthly networking meetings and offer special training classes throughout the month.

If you move to Arlington where your investment is there is a large investor group Arlington Real Estate Association of Investors (AREA). Their website is

http://www.meetup.com/realestate-445/. I have not been to their meetings, but they appear to be a very large and active group.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the area. I am glad to help.

Scott

1Reply
See this reply in the discussion

18 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Alicia Chang
    Real Estate Agent · Dallas, TX · Member since 2015 · 18 posts · 6 votes
    11y

    Hi Alex, welcome! I'm also in Dallas. Still definitely a newbie with only a condo at this point that I live in. Congrats on the big move! 

    0Reply
  • Dmitriy Fomichenko
    Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    11y

    Glad you find this site @Monique Correia you are in the right place to learn all about REI!

    Wishing you the best!

    0Reply
  • Michael S.Pro Member
    Biggerpockets Support · Las Pinas, Metro Manila · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    @Monique Correia

    Welcome to Biggerpockets. Great to have you here. 

    BiggerPockets
    0Reply
  • Mark Nolan
    Professional · Carlsbad, CA · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11y

    @Monique Correia

    BP is full of useful resources such as forums and blogs. Welcome to the Bigger Pockets community-be sure to check out all the awesome BP blogs under “Learn.”

    0Reply
  • Monique Correia
    OP
    Investor · Laguna Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    11y

    thanks all for the kind welcome.  

    @Alicia Chang - hello! Nice to meet you. Are you fixing your condo while you live in it, or another plan? Been to any REI meetings in the DFW area yet?

    0Reply
  • Scott Beck
    Investor · Murphy, TX · Member since 2015 · 145 posts · 53 votes
    11y

    @Alex White

    Hi Alex. Welcome to BP.

    There are many REI meetings in the DFW metroplex. Since I live in Murphy (northeast of Dallas) the closest REI group to me is the North Texas Association if Real Estate Investors (http://ntarei.com/). They have monthly networking meetings and offer special training classes throughout the month.

    If you move to Arlington where your investment is there is a large investor group Arlington Real Estate Association of Investors (AREA). Their website is

    http://www.meetup.com/realestate-445/. I have not been to their meetings, but they appear to be a very large and active group.

    Let me know if you have any other questions about the area. I am glad to help.

    Scott

    1Reply
  • Alberto Camacho
    Investor · Flower Mound, TX · Member since 2015 · 179 posts · 48 votes
    11y
     @Monique Correia:

     Hi Alex, 

    Welcome to Texas and BP! It happens I'm a also a Brooklynite. Hitting my 2 year mark in the DFW come September. Coworkers still poke fun of my "How you doin". Feel free to hit me up. Glad to help where I can.

    0Reply
  • Monique Correia
    OP
    Investor · Laguna Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    11y

    @Scott Beck - Thank you for that info. I'll check out AREA .  

    Do you ever attend other meetings outside of your NTAREI group?

    @Alberto Camacho - haha!  Awesome to have another fellow escapee in Texas.  Would love to connect and learn anything you're willing to share!

    0Reply
  • Scott Beck
    Investor · Murphy, TX · Member since 2015 · 145 posts · 53 votes
    11y

    @Monique Correia

    I have attended the REI Expo in January. It had many talks on a variety of real estate investment topics. It was a good place to network.

    I have found other groups through meetup, but have yet to visit them.

    0Reply
  • Lauren Lockett
    Investor · Arlington, TX · Member since 2015 · 201 posts · 61 votes
    11y

    @Monique Correia

    Welcome to BP Alex! There are several DFW investors here on BP. I currently attend a REIA event in Addison each month as a vendor (for Auction.com), but am considering becoming a member closer to Arlingotn. I also explored Meetup.com and they look to have a few meetings in Arlington that I'm thinking of attending and becoming a member of. I'll def let ya know how they go!

     I own a condo in North Arlington that I vacation rent on Airbnb and Flipkey, but I'm currently looking for full duplex in Arlington - a side to live in and a side to rent. Curious to know how you got your half duplex.

    Check out the Ultimate Beginner's Guide under Learn > Free How-To-Guides > Ultimate Beginner's Guide. I'd also explore the Network tab! There's also a weekly webinar that's been pretty spectacular. Sign up at biggerpockets.com/webinars. 

    Do you hope to become a landlord? Flipper? Let me know if there's anything I can help out with! I'm new as well, but can at least point you in the right direction! 

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Trabuco Canyon, CA · Member since 2015 · 40 posts · 35 votes
    11y

    @Monique Correia

    Welcome Alex!!

    I live in California and have owned a rental in Austin for 9 years.  Just started the process of buying a rental in Dallas.  Sounds to me like you're moving to the right area for Real Estate Investing!!  Lots of growth in Texas (and they have In-N-Out Burger now!!)

    Best of luck!!

    Gil

    0Reply
  • Monique Correia
    OP
    Investor · Laguna Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    11y

    @Lauren Lockett - Another fellow DFW investor - awesome!    Thank you for the info on getting up and running.  I've actually been digesting the Beginner's guide with great interest, and have a good first draft of my business plan and approach.  I've seen the last 2 webinar's by @Brandon Turner  as well  - invaluable!

    That is great info on the meetup.com - I will definitely look into it.  So much going on right now before we move to Arlington, but once we get settled, we'll hit the ground running.

    I acquired my half duplex via a local agent and MLS. Right time, right place type of thing, although I would prefer owning the entire duplex.

    Our longer term goals are to grow our passive income stream via buy and hold of more SFH and larger apartment complexes. In the short term, I am looking to flip (and wholesale) to build that capital. I love to get my hands dirty and get involved in the transformation of a house, so I'm excited about flipping.

    Thanks again for all the great info.  Please reach out if I can help you in any way.  

    Best,

    Alex

    2Reply
  • Dmitri L.
    Investor · DFW, TX · Member since 2013 · 319 posts · 101 votes
    11y

    Hi @Monique Correia

    Welcome to BP!!

    You've definitely come to the right place, and if you put in some time there is just so much to learn, and many experienced folks in the DFW area are quite active on the forums

    What did you have in mind as far as wholesaling? From what I hear, the market is quite saturated with investors mailing, but the flip side is that if you do get a good deal there's no issue getting it sold.

    See you around the forums!

    Cheers

    -Dmitri

    PS - are there any other IT nerds out there getting a kick out of all this talk of full / half duplex?

    0Reply
  • Marlon Wilson
    Houston, TX · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 114 votes
    11y

    Hi @Alicia Chang!

    Welcome to Biggerpockets!

    Wishing you all the success on your real estate venture!

    0Reply
  • Monique Correia
    OP
    Investor · Laguna Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    11y

    @Dmitri L. Thanks for the welcome!  

    My primary focus is on rehab flips, but wholesaling is a channel I want to keep open if the deal makes sense/cents.  I have a background in product marketing, and have some methods I feel are not fully leveraged in RE that will convert well.  But you're right - overall, it's saturated and highly competitive (as is any tier of an industry that is targeted to the "beginner")

    I see you're doing work in DFW and Tokyo.  Not your average commute!  Are you a dual citizen?   Any background on the Tokyo market choice?

    thanks again!

    Alex

    0Reply
  • Monique Correia
    OP
    Investor · Laguna Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 4 votes
    11y

    @Account Closed  In-N-Out never goes out of style!  Where in CA are you?  I lived in a variety of neighborhoods in LA, most recently Century City.

    I'm interested in the Austin market as well, and if you got in 8 years ago, I assume you've been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride?  Prices there have grown quite a bit thanks to the influx of tech growth.   

    Nice move on the Dallas investment!  Excited to connect with another DFW investor!

    Let me know if I can help your growth out in any way!

    Best,

    Alex

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Trabuco Canyon, CA · Member since 2015 · 40 posts · 35 votes
    11y

    Hey @Monique Correia

    I live in South Orange County. 

    I've had some ups and downs on underlying property value of the Austin house, but since I'm a long-term buy/hold guy, it really hasn't had any kind of impact on me.  I've luckily had the same tenant for the entire 8 years that I've owned it. :)

    Hoping to close quickly on the Dallas property and working on a 4-plex in San Antonio right now as well.  I love Texas!!

    Let's keep in touch and see how we can help each other!

    Gil

    0Reply
  • Chris Soignier
    Real Estate Broker · North Richland Hills, TX · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 607 votes
    11y

    Welcome to BP! I also tired of the corporate rat race, and went full time into REI back in March. It's a very competitive market, but there's still plenty of money to be made if you know what you're doing and don't overbid.

    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free