New member from Sourthern California (Inland Empire)!

New member from Sourthern California (Inland Empire)!

Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes

Hello BP Community!

I’m very excited to be here! My name is Tom Pentolino and I am a newbie investor in my mid-30s located in Southern California (more specifically Rancho Cucamonga, which is based in the Inland Empire). Currently I work a full-time job as a Controller for a commercial real estate firm. While I love my job, my dream and passion has always been buying and holding a portfolio of real estate consisting of single-family and multi-family units that achieve cash flow capable of retiring on. Long-term, I have bigger dreams of potentially owning apartments and possibly even storage units. I purchased my first home in March 2010 and house hacked with roommates in order to get assistance covering the mortgage. Three years later, my wife and I got the courage to take the next step and buy another single family home. I’ve since then been reading real estate investment books and listening to podcasts on my way to work in order to educate myself. This made me reflect on my current situation and realize that I need to get the ball rolling and become more aggressive in my real estate investment pursuits in order to achieve my dreams by retirement age. I’m in a good position now for the next investment, as I have some cash saved, have decent equity in both homes, and have other investments I’d considered liquidating for more purchasing power. In the meantime, just trying to soak up all the knowledge I can and build a network in the area with mutually beneficial and rewarding relationships and friendships.Thank you all for reading and look forward to connecting with you!

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Dave VisayaPro Member
Moderator
Audio Engineer and Investor · Cebu City, Cebu · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 881 votes
9y

Hello @Tom Pentolino, welcome to the site! Feel free to jump in the community here and also take advantage of the treasure of knowledge here.

BiggerPockets
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  • Dave VisayaPro Member
    Moderator
    Audio Engineer and Investor · Cebu City, Cebu · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 881 votes
    9y

    Hello @Tom Pentolino, welcome to the site! Feel free to jump in the community here and also take advantage of the treasure of knowledge here.

    BiggerPockets
  • Investor · Highland, CA · Member since 2017 · 28 posts · 15 votes
    9y
    Tom Pentolino i wanna say welcome to BP neighbor. Though I have a few years under my belt I will always consider myself a newbie. There is so much to learn. And so many more people smarter on here. Just search subject and the info will present itself.
  • Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 8 posts · 5 votes
    9y

    Hey Tom!

    I'm writing you this while I have this week's episode of BP currently on pause (great episode so far).  Anyway I am also in Rancho near RCHS, also a newbie that's read at least a dozen real estate books and listened to about half of all the BP podcasts.  I also network about twice  month at the Inland Empire Real Estate Investors Club meeting ups in Riverside and have a small network of support.  If you ever want to meet up here in town to talk a little more I'm right down the street!   Cheers! And welcome to the BP community!

  • Jerome MorelosPro Member
    Redlands, CA · Member since 2017 · 205 posts · 88 votes
    9y
    Tom Pentolino Issac Meza I'm also a newbie from the I.E. and would love to meet-up and talk Real Estate sometime!
  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y

    @Dave Visaya @Patrick C.thanks for the welcome! Been listening to the podcasts for a few months now, and am eager to spend more time on this website.

    @Issac Meza I just listened to the podcast on my home from work today. What a great show and motivational story!  I've been juggling the podcasts with some reading material, as well. I actually just set down Scott Trench's book "Set For Life" to respond back to your message here. Definitely a great book, and I have a long list of books next in line! I'm glad you reached out, and I look forward to connecting. I saw that the IEREIC is having a meeting this Saturday, so I'm going to try and make that. Let me know if you plan on going and I'll keep an eye out for ya! Otherwise, would love to get together some time and chat real estate.

    @Jerome Morelos Thanks for reaching out. Let's connect!

  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Tom Pentolino:

    Hello BP Community!

    I’m very excited to be here! My name is Tom Pentolino and I am a newbie investor in my mid-30s located in Southern California (more specifically Rancho Cucamonga, which is based in the Inland Empire). Currently I work a full-time job as a Controller for a commercial real estate firm. While I love my job, my dream and passion has always been buying and holding a portfolio of real estate consisting of single-family and multi-family units that achieve cash flow capable of retiring on. Long-term, I have bigger dreams of potentially owning apartments and possibly even storage units. I purchased my first home in March 2010 and house hacked with roommates in order to get assistance covering the mortgage. Three years later, my wife and I got the courage to take the next step and buy another single family home. I’ve since then been reading real estate investment books and listening to podcasts on my way to work in order to educate myself. This made me reflect on my current situation and realize that I need to get the ball rolling and become more aggressive in my real estate investment pursuits in order to achieve my dreams by retirement age. I’m in a good position now for the next investment, as I have some cash saved, have decent equity in both homes, and have other investments I’d considered liquidating for more purchasing power. In the meantime, just trying to soak up all the knowledge I can and build a network in the area with mutually beneficial and rewarding relationships and friendships.Thank you all for reading and look forward to connecting with you!

     Hello and welcome! This is a great place to get started! Best of luck to you!

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Thanks a ton Tom Ott !
  • Surveyor · Hemet, CA · Member since 2015 · 797 posts · 112 votes
    9y

    @Tom Pentolino Welcome to bigger pockets! Best site on the web I believe.  There is a real estate meeting on the 26th at the mission inn riverside starts at like 6 I think. I'll be there please feel free to reach out to me I am about to pump 600k into local real estate. My contacts are on my profile thank you.

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Robin Boyer Thanks, I really appreciate it! I should be able to make the 26th meeting, and will definitely be going to tomorrow's. If I see you there I'll be sure to stop by and chat with you. Congrats on being in a great position to do your next deal! Looking forward to hearing all about it.
  • Surveyor · Hemet, CA · Member since 2015 · 797 posts · 112 votes
    9y

    @Tom Pentolino yes I am beyond stoked on being in this position hoping to make a great happy career out of this.  Are you going to the coffee meeting? I am taking the bus maybe we can meet before the coffee down the street?  These meeting are very large so it's kind of hard to connect to people personally.

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Robin Boyer Yep, I'll be there tomorrow and would love to meet up beforehand. I'm not too familiar with the area, so let me know if you have a place in mind. For some reason I can't access anyones contact info here via the BP app nor am I able to inbox anyone, but when I get home to my computer I'll shoot you a message with my contact info.
  • Rental Property Investor · Oakland, CA · Member since 2016 · 602 posts · 250 votes
    9y

    Hello @Tom Pentolino, welcome to BP man! I am also investing in Southern California, let's connect!

  • Surveyor · Hemet, CA · Member since 2015 · 797 posts · 112 votes
    9y

    @Bryan Pham are you available tomorrow morning early in riverside? If not let's connect another time do you have a email on your profile page.

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y

    @Bryan Pham Thanks! Just sent you a connect request. Would love to touch base at some point and see what your currently involved in.

  • Surveyor · Hemet, CA · Member since 2015 · 797 posts · 112 votes
    9y

    @Tom Pentolino morning just got into riverside should be there at about 8 am I have jeans and a grey blank shirt on. See you soon hopefully!

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Robin Boyer sorry robin, I didn't see your post until after I had left the Meetup. I think I did see you there though, but didn't want to interrupt your conversation. I will definitely be going to the Wednesday meeting so let me know if you're going and we will be sure to chat then.
  • Surveyor · Hemet, CA · Member since 2015 · 797 posts · 112 votes
    9y

    @Tom Pentolino I will be there I plan to be there early to discuss the new situation at hand I am looking for properties asap. Hit me up Monday and we can set up a time and place in the mission inn thanks!

  • West Hollywood, CA · Member since 2016 · 235 posts · 72 votes
    9y

    Welcome to Bigger Pockets @Tom Pentolino!

    BP is loaded with all the information you will need to succeed in whatever niche of real estate investing you wish to pursue and the community is filled with knowledgeable investors and professionals to learn from and connect with.

    BP is what you make it. The more you put in, the more you will get out of it!

    Listen to the podcast for extra inspiration and investing advice and post in the forum for any questions you have. Members here are really eager to help. We're all working to succeed together.

    Also, check the "networking events" tab under "Community" and go out there and meet people. That's the way to build powerful relationships.

    Like you, I am living in CA (Los Angeles), but I focus on investing out of state for the 2x cash flow and reasonable cost of real estate. Florida is my state of choice.

    If you have any questions about out of state investing and in the Florida market, connect with me and good luck on your journey!

    - Brad

    P.S. - Two of the best books you can read (and re-read) are Rich Dad, Poor Dad and The 4-Hour Workweek. Both have been mentioned numerous times by guests on the Bigger Pockets podcast and I have detailed notes to both books. If you would like a copy, just let me know and I'll send them over. (but it's still highly worth buying the books.)

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Bradley De comarmond Thank you very much for all that great info, Brad. I've been enjoying spending a lot of time looking around the website and absorbing all the great content that I can. The podcasts have also been fantastic. One of these days, I would love to pick your brain on your out-of-state investing. I've very recently made the realization hat I'll likely need to do a 1031 exchange on my single family rental here in Southern California. It has decent equity but doesn't cash flow very well, so I'm highly interested in taking hat equity to grow my portfolio with better cash flowing properties. I'm pretty new to this and have never sold a property (let alone done a 1031), so right now just trying learn as much as I can and as soon as I can, while also finding professionals and investors with experience in this area to network and work with. If you have any tips, suggestions, or people in the So Cal market (or elsewhere) that you'd recommend I connect with, I'd truly appreciate it. I can't seem to send a connect request via the BP phone app (maybe I'm doing something wrong), but when I get home tonight I'll be sure to send you a request. PS - I read Rich Dad Poor Dad a few years ago and it had a profound impact on my investment outlook. I actually plan to re-read it soon. I've heard great things about the 4-Hour Workweek so I'll be sure to buy the book. One of my favorite books (although it's been a few years since reading it) is Equity Matters. Have you ever read it?
  • Rental Property Investor · Thousand Oaks, CA · Member since 2017 · 147 posts · 48 votes
    9y

    Welcome!

    I am from Newbury Park/Thousand Oaks, CA. I am currently stationed in D.C., but will be moving back permanently to Southern CA next summer to start my college and career in the civilian world! 

    I recently found this site a few months back and have been reading books, listening to podcasts, and analyzing deals via the calculators. I have also been saving, saving, saving. I would like to acquire as much capital as possible to be able to get my first property somewhat soon after I get out of the Marine Corps. Ideally, I would prefer to househack a home in SoCal, but we will see what is available when that time rolls around.

    Good luck to you!

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 2 votes
    9y
    Jonathan Jaime Velarde thanks for reaching out! Let's be sure to keep in contact when you make the move to CA. Best of luck! Bradley De comarmond I mis-typed the book I was referring to....its called Equity Happens (I did mention that it's been a few years...lol). Anyway I found it to be a great read, but I was just getting into RE investing when I read it, so perhaps it'd be a basic read for a more established investor such as yourself.
  • Investor · Riverside, CA · Member since 2017 · 46 posts · 12 votes
    9y

    @Tom Pentolino

    Welcome to BP!  

    Best of luck to you on your endeavors. I recently just started with a company that wholesales in the inland empire and surrounding area, and from what I have seen there is nothing but good things out here in the real estate market. Plenty of opportunities & a lot of good people to help out along the way.

  • Kevin FoxPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 635 votes
    9y

    Hey @Tom Pentolino

    Welcome to BP!

    Let me know if you ever consider getting in to the market down here in SD. Always happy to help!

  • Investor · Pasadena, CA · Member since 2017 · 613 posts · 523 votes
    9y

    Hey All!

    After recently completing a few long & exhausting flips, I'm looking to get my head back in the general RE game to focus on my next moves. I used to be part of a small local "mastermind" group that would meet periodically, but had disbanded a long while ago. 

    Any of you locals interested in getting together and throw ideas around? As a 1 time thing, to start. Pm me.

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 684 votes
    9y

    Welcome to BP @Tom Pentolino  

    Rancho Cucamonga is a great place.

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