Vinny from Baltimore, MD

[Vincent Di salvo]

Hello Everyone!!

My name is Vinny from Baltimore, MD. I have been lurking on the BP forums for about a year now and with other research feel as if I'm ready to dive into my first investment. 

A little about me: I'm originally from Orange County, NY but currently live in the Baltimore, MD area. I graduated from UMBC in 2014 and have been living here since. I work as a mechanical engineer for a consulting firm in the Baltimore area, but my passion has always been for running. My goal with real estate is to become financially free so that I can live the lifestyle I would like and be a full-time cross country coach.  

I am interested in investing in the areas just outside of Baltimore city, such as Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties. I have come to notice that multi-family homes such as duplexes are hard to come by in these areas. My goal for my first investment is to live in it, since I'm currently renting and then rent out rooms or other units. 

I have attended the BWI meet up group which has been great. I need to focus more on networking at the upcoming meet up. I'm looking to connect with investors in the area and create some good relationships. 

Thank you

-Vinny

[M Marie M.]

Hi @Vincent Di salvo. 

Consider one option of house hacking. If you are interested in buy and holds in the future, dealing with prospective roommate-tenants is good experience and you get the training wheels of legally being able to be super picky (as an owner occupant). 

Yes, a lot of houses in the burbs don't have the duplex set up, but depending on the size of the property you might be able to carve out a semi-private unit as some friends did with their childhood home. The family lives on the top floor with 1 or 2 trusted tenants from church, and another tenant has her own space in the basement with her own bathroom and dorm fridge microwave set up. My husband for a time lived in a group house where he had the basement unit with the separate bath and a bar-kitchen.

So if you can't find a duplex consider having a "roommate". A roommate who you don't share a kitchen or bathroom with.