Joined a couple months ago - just now getting to properly introducing myself...  I have to give a very broad "thank you" to the entire community: I've have spent LOTS of time reading (even posting a little) in the past couple months - and I couldn't have learned as efficiently without the help of BP!

My wife and I got started like many others: moved out of our house and couldn't sell the first, so we opted to rent it out. 2.5 years later, we've decided we didn't mind being landlords (I actually liked it), enjoyed the cash flow, and were able to 'wait out' the market in order to sell that house without losing on it. Now (recently) having sold that house, we're looking to reinvest the equity into flips (when the numbers/market allow for it) and rentals (preferably small multi's or small apartment complexes) - with the goal of building up a rental portfolio that supplements the W2 income (maybe one day near retirement it could replace it?). We've opted to start our focus 'in our backyard' here in Lake County, though may (likely will) branch out further with time...

Non-RE investing background:  I'm an engineer by trade (with all the anal-retentive number crunching that comes with it), presently in a 'Global Strategic Planning' role at my corporation.  My wife is a teacher by trade; she's had the tougher job of staying home with our small children the last several years while I have had it 'easy' working my day job (to note, my day job is pretty awesome, I work with some amazing people, and every day is a new and exciting challenge).  As @Brandon Turner says: do what  you love and invest on the side...

I've read many places now that it helps to write down a plan, even a simple one. Here's our 'simple' plan:

Short term goal: purchase our first (intentional) investment property

Mid term goal: BRRRR our first (intentional) rental (may happen with the short term goal above!)

Long term goal: cash flow enough to cover my children's college tuition (2 kids, 12 year clock counting down)

Looking forward to continuing to learn, contributing when I can, getting to know more of you, and (of course) building up our portfolio!

~ Joe

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