Newbie Investor from Orlando and St Pete FL

Newbie Investor from Orlando and St Pete FL

Investor · St Petersburg, FL · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 6 votes

Hi everyone! 

My name is Dustin. I am a University of Florida Graduate in Finance and Real Estate, a Marine Corps Combat Veteran (still in the reserves), prior Financial Advisor, and a current MBA student and a business partner in a Private Prisoner Transport Company. Pretty diverse, i know!  

I first got involved in Real Estate Investments accidentally about 2 years ago after I bought my first home in St. Petersburg, FL to live in. I was forced to move shortly after for a job opportunity and I didn't have much of a choice but to rent out my property at the time. It's created a small start to some passive income. About $700/mo in cash flow/additional income. 

Since then, I have a friend who recommended the BiggerPockets podcast and i've been hooked for about a month now. Not to mention I can't put down Brandon Turner's new book on Rental Property Investing. With that said, i'm about a week away from sitting for the Real Estate License Exam in FL, and I am very interested in starting to purchase some rental properties and creating some passive income with some 3-5 year buy and hold properties. 

I have so many questions and so much to learn. I am very excited about the opportunity to connect with all the experienced investors, real estate agents, contracts, etc. on this forum and learn from some of the best! 

Looking forward to networking with all of you! 

Semper Fidelis, 

Dustin Baldwin 

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Adam BartomeoBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Cape Coral, FL · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y

Thank you for you service! I am also a vet.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or want advice. I help a lot of veterans with questions.

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Saint Petersburg, FL · Member since 2013 · 110 posts · 38 votes
    10y

    As a Saint Pete FL resident who just got my license...Welcome! If you have any questions about the exam let me know and I will help you as best I can.

  • Adam BartomeoBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Cape Coral, FL · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Thank you for you service! I am also a vet.

    Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or want advice. I help a lot of veterans with questions.

  • Real Estate Broker · Mount Olive, IL · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 310 votes
    10y
    Welcome to BP. Great place to learn and teach. That is a sweet degree you got in real estate. Good luck.
  • Specialist · Rockland, MA · Member since 2010 · 7k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    10y

    @Dustin Baldwin

    Welcome. Thanks for your service. Fill in the foundation below.

    Check out the Start Here page http://www.biggerpockets.com/starthere

    Check out BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginner's Guide - A fantastic free book that walks through many of the key topics of real estate investing.

    Check out the free BiggerPockets Podcast - A weekly podcast with interviews and a ton of great advice. And you get the benefit of having over 100 past ones to catch up on.

    Locate and attend 3 different local REIA club meetings great place to meet people gather resources and info. Here you will meet wholesalers who provide deals and rehabbers (cash buyers). Find them through Google and meetup.com

    Two Great reads, I bought both J. Scott The Book on Flipping Houses, The Book on Estimating ReHab Costs http://www.biggerpockets.com/flippingbook

    You might consider Niche or Specialized Housing like student housing. Rents can be 2-4 times more. Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.

    Download BP’s newest book here some good due diligence in Chapter 10. Real Estate Rewind Starting over

    http://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/brandonatbp/file/real-estate-rewind-a-biggerpockets-community-book

    Good Luck

    Paul 

  • Real Estate Investor · Davenport, FL · Member since 2015 · 516 posts · 152 votes
    10y

    We are a small, veteran owned real estate HUD Brokerage where all of us are also investors.

    We are "virtual" in that everyone has their own farm area and works from home.

    If we can be of any help, just ask... We are also, always hiring.

  • Investor · St Petersburg, FL · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 6 votes
    10y

    @Account ClosedI may reach out to you for some more information. Need to get my license first. Thanks for your service! 

  • Real Estate Agent · Orlando, FL · Member since 2008 · 551 posts · 159 votes
    10y

    Welcome to Bigger Pockets Dustin. Wishing your the best on your License Exam!

  • Investor · St Petersburg, FL · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 6 votes
    10y

    Thanks for the welcome gentlemen! @John Kent@David Ebbeson

  • Orlando, FL · Member since 2015 · 79 posts · 21 votes
    10y

    Welcome to BP and GoGators!

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