Aspiring real estate investor

Member since 2026 · 4 posts · 10 votes

Hi everyone! I’m a recent college graduate from Maryland and an aspiring real estate investor looking to build long-term wealth through rental properties. I have about $5K saved and I’m eager to learn and take action toward my first deal. I’m especially interested in the BRRRR method, and if you have experience using this strategy and are open to sharing advice or mentorship, I’d love to connect and learn from you. I’m also willing to help with research, deal analysis, or other tasks to gain hands-on experience and learn from active investors.

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Caleb Brown

Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes

3mo

I would explore house hacking. You will need to continue and save. Start attending meetups and focus on earning $$

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Caleb Brown
Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3mo
I would explore house hacking. You will need to continue and save. Start attending meetups and focus on earning $$
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Arman AhmedPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 914 votes
3mo
Quote from @Mikayla Russell:

Hi everyone! I'm a recent college graduate from Maryland and an aspiring real estate investor looking to build long-term wealth through rental properties. I have about $5K saved and I'm eager to learn and take action toward my first deal. I'm especially interested in the BRRRR method, and if you have experience using this strategy and are open to sharing advice or mentorship, I'd love to connect and learn from you. I'm also willing to help with research, deal analysis, or other tasks to gain hands-on experience and learn from active investors.

Congrats on getting started early! With $5K, I'd spend this time learning, analyzing deals, and building relationships before rushing into a purchase. Also, don't feel like you have to invest only in your backyard. Many new investors get started in Midwest markets because lower prices and stronger cash flow make the BRRRR strategy much more achievable. The right market and team can make all the difference.
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Wale LawalBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
3mo
@Mikayla Russell
The right start to your career involves educating yourself and providing value for seasoned investors. Given the $5K, the next several months should be used for honing your skills at underwriting, building up your network and being aggressive in saving so that you’re prepared to make your move when the time is right.
Good luck!
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Robert EllisBusiness Member
Developer · Miami, FL · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3mo
Quote from @Mikayla Russell:

Hi everyone! I’m a recent college graduate from Maryland and an aspiring real estate investor looking to build long-term wealth through rental properties. I have about $5K saved and I’m eager to learn and take action toward my first deal. I’m especially interested in the BRRRR method, and if you have experience using this strategy and are open to sharing advice or mentorship, I’d love to connect and learn from you. I’m also willing to help with research, deal analysis, or other tasks to gain hands-on experience and learn from active investors.

One thing I'd challenge is the idea that your biggest limitation right now is the $5,000.
A lot can change by the time you've saved enough for your first purchase. If you spend that time getting really good at underwriting deals, you'll probably see opportunities that other beginners overlook when you finally have the capital.
The investors I know who moved the fastest weren't necessarily the ones who saved the quickest—they were the ones who could recognize a good deal within a few minutes because they'd analyzed hundreds before buying their first one.
Out of curiosity, how many deals have you actually underwritten so far?
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Jules Aton
MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3mo
Welcome! Congratulations on graduating. Plenty of solid areas in Balto. metro to consider. I would get settled in with your career, live simply and save. When you are settled and have a few more funds for cushion an owner occupied live in rehab or house hack would be reasonable places to start.
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Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3mo
Congrats on graduating! I’d wait to buy any properties until you save more, educate yourself, and go to local meetups to network with local investors. Your odds of success will drastically improve if you build a network before jumping in.
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Diana Khan
Attorney · 10451 Mill Run Cir #755 Owings Mills, MD 21117 · Member since 2024 · 340 posts · 124 votes
1mo
Quote from @Mikayla Russell:

Hi everyone! I'm a recent college graduate from Maryland and an aspiring real estate investor looking to build long-term wealth through rental properties. I have about $5K saved and I'm eager to learn and take action toward my first deal. I'm especially interested in the BRRRR method, and if you have experience using this strategy and are open to sharing advice or mentorship, I'd love to connect and learn from you. I'm also willing to help with research, deal analysis, or other tasks to gain hands-on experience and learn from active investors.

While you’re still saving @Mikayla Russell, one thing that could really help is to practice the full BRRRR process using real properties for sale in Baltimore. Pick a property and pretend you're actually buying it. Write down the purchase price, estimate the repairs, look at what similar renovated homes are worth, and check what similar rentals are getting each month.

Then add up the other costs too, like taxes, insurance, utilities during the rehab, closing costs, and money you may need to keep aside for repairs or vacancies. After that, estimate what the property could refinance for once the work is finished and see how much of your original money would actually come back to you.

Doing this over and over can help you understand which numbers really matter and where a BRRRR deal can fall apart before you have your own money at risk. You don’t have to wait until you’re ready to buy to start getting that experience.

Happy to connect with you here as you keep learning and working toward your first deal.

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