A math teacher thinking of real estate

[Ryan Dixon]

Hello everyone, 

I'm Ryan. I'm originally from Arizona but moved to California two years ago to teach high school math in Stockton. I'm 27, and my wife is 24. We are hoping to retire as landlords with cash flow that will sustain a comfortable retirement. At least that's the plan for now.

For the next two years, I will continue to teach math (not my dream job) while my wife is in nursing school. After that I hope to break into real estate somehow ( I've yet to decide exactly what I'll do—I'm in the early stages of education/exploration). We remain unsure as to whether we will want to move back to Arizona or stay in California, so I figure that over the next two years, I will try to get a real estate license in both states. 

Right now, I'm looking for a solid real estate course I can take in California. So here's my first BP question, intended for the Californians in the community:

What real estate course would you recommend?

I should note that I would prefer an online course if possible (I think that's approved in California?) because I teach school until the evening, will be traveling throughout the summer, and will be supporting my wife through a pretty rigorous nursing program in the fall. Your thoughts?

[Chris V.]

Hi Ryan - Welcome to BP. Congrats on figuring out that real estate is a great financiallong term strategy! I wish I would have started at 27! I could have but I still believed the corporate promise back then I Guess:). Or maybe it was because I sucked at math in school:))).

Anyway, I have one question for you; why are you so focused on becoming a realtor? What benefit do you see in that with regards to property investing? I dare to say that 95% of the people on here that are actually property investors and landlords are not brokers or even agents.

As a recommendation, I would strongly advise to listen to the Bigger Pockets Podcasts. Start with all the subjects from the last 2 years or so that you think appeal to you and then once you are hooked listen to everything else newest to oldest. it is free, entertaining and in just a few weeks it will give you a pretty complete "education" on everything that is out there. It will not tell you exactly what to do but its GREAT foundation material especially since it takes you through all different facets of the real estate "agame".

Good luck finding your in!

Chris