New "Investor" North of Boston

[Jordan Nesmith]

Hello Bigger Pockets! I am an aspiring investor currently looking to make my first real estate jump by house-hacking a multi-family property somewhere along the Route 93 or Route 3 corridor north of Boston. I have just begun working my way through the Bigger Pockets podcasts and related reading, and splurged on the Pro membership for the calculator help. It seems tough to find a good house-hacking deal in this market, and I would like to find a local investor friendly real estate agent to help direct my search efforts.

I've been super inspired by the podcasts and reading that I've done so far, and am really excited to connect with the BP community and start my investing journey. I've been a mechanical engineer for the 6 years since I graduated college, and for a while have had the goal of financial independence by the time I'm 40. My current house-hacking goal seems like a great way to start working towards that goal with the help of real estate investing, and then figure out what the next step in real estate should be. I'm ready to go!

[Lien Vuong]

Congrats on making a move onto financial freedom! I think you're making the right steps to met with professionals such as lenders and agents who know the market well and give you feedback about it. 

I would definitely shop lender rates without running credit to see who has the most advantage package comparing a bank's rates vs. credit unions vs. mortgage companies. Know that origination fees/points/rates are all negotiable. Even if you found a great property and did not properly shop your lending you could be paying for it in the back end. That's been my personal experience thus far. 

Additionally it is obviously great to speak to agents as well but be mindful to speak to ones that know the strategy you're employing. The majority of agents out there work the 'retail' work aka buying/selling someone a property once for primary residence and that's it. Based on what you've expressed that is not your goal so establishing that rapport and foundation of trust and knowledge is imperative at this point in your investing timeline. 

Good luck!