Hello bigger pockets!

[Dylan S.]

Hello BP!

I've been on this site for over a year now, attending webinars, reading daily blogs, and scouring the forums.  Just wanted to introduce myself, I'm a new investor from Dillsburg, PA (15 miles SW of Harrisburg).  My wife and I are just beginning our real estate investing journey as we purchased our first rental a month ago, we've owned our primary residence for 4 years as well.  Our goal is to eventually create enough monthly cash flow through rental properties to quite our jobs so we can travel and enjoy time with friends and family.  

Our first investment was a SFH in Midtown Harrisburg, PA. An area known as "up and coming" with a handful of craft breweries and neat restaurants within a block. There is a federal courthouse going in 2 blocks away as well, construction begins in January. We purchased the property for $89K and it appraised at $103K. I only expect that to continue to rise as the midtown area continues its revitalization and with the courthouse being built. We are currently cash flowing roughly $400 including budgeting for repairs/capex.

I've definitely caught the real estate "bug" since I am already trying to come up with ways to finance our next deal.  We spent almost all of our free cash on the down payment, we went with a conventional loan putting 20% down with a community bank in the area (which also happens to be my employer).  Needless to say, I need to get creative with our next property whether it be private funds, taking on a partner, etc.  

Any suggestions about where to go from here and/or big picture strategy moving forward would be welcomed. I wanted to start investing in rentals, specifically SFH due to the stability of tenant and greater chance for appreciation. However, I am open to Fix and flips or buy and hold multi unit as well.

[Travis Wylie]

Congrats @Dylan S. on your first rental unit!  I love midtown Harrisburg and have a 4 unit there that I used to live in.  Sounds like you found a great deal, and I agree with you that the appreciation should continue with building of the new federal courthouse and also Harrisburg University is supposed to be building a $100M building downtown, which I think that economic force will trickle into the Midtown area as well.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help!