21 year-old Recent Grad Condo Investment Advice

Member since 2024 · 3 posts · 1 vote

Hello! My name is Ren and I graduating from Emory University studying Real Estate this May. I accepted a job offer in Midtown, Atlanta and and interested in investing in a Condo. I have been following bigger pockets and real estate rookie podcasts for years and it is my goal to start implementing my knowledge into a substantial investment.

I am looking for advice on the feasibility of an investment considering obtaining a loan at a young age may have very high IRs. If you are willing to take 20-miniutes for a call, please reply to this post.

Best regards,

Ren

1 Reply

145 views

8 Replies

Jump to latestLatest

Sort by

Ryan SpathBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Boise, ID · Member since 2017 · 565 posts · 377 votes
8mo
Hey Ren — congrats on graduating and landing a job in Midtown, that’s a big milestone 👏

You’re asking the right questions early. Age itself isn’t what drives interest rates — it’s more about credit profile, income stability, debt-to-income, and the loan program used. There are often solid options for first-time buyers that can make an owner-occupied condo a very realistic starting point, especially if you’re planning to live in it.

I also work closely with a lender partner who does a great job helping younger professionals walk through scenarios, run numbers, and understand what’s actually feasible (not just what’s theoretical).

Shoot me a DM and I’m happy to connect you and/or jump on a quick call to talk strategy.
[email protected]208-600-2814
0 Reply
Michael K GallagherBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Columbus OH · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8mo
@Ren Watt congrats on the job, generally an offer letter and some pay stubs is enough to get approval from what I've seen in my clients. as far as "investing in a condo" goes a condo can be a great asset but its going to be down to the specific building. especially if you plan to leave and keep it as a rental you'll want to make sure the condo association does not forbid what you eventually plan to do with it, ie ltr, str, mtr etc.
[email protected]614-362-2231
0 Reply
Juan Yepes
Lender · Miami, FL · Member since 2025 · 123 posts · 34 votes
8mo
Hi Ren, happy to review your situation and go over your options. Based on what you mentioned, it’s not about whether you can get approved but which option gets you the best terms.
0 Reply
- Ren Watt
  OP
  Member since 2024 · 3 posts · 1 vote
  8mo
  Quote from @Juan Yepes:
  Hi Ren, happy to review your situation and go over your options. Based on what you mentioned, it’s not about whether you can get approved but which option gets you the best terms.
  Hi Juan,
  
  Thank you for your reply and that is good news. Do you have an email that I can reach you by to step up a zoom call?
  
  0 Reply
Stephen QuesinberryBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Cumming, GA · Member since 2016 · 226 posts · 157 votes
8mo
Congrats, Ren on the upcoming graduation and the decision to getting started on the RE journey here.

A few quick thoughts that may help as you frame this:
- Condos can work, but be selective. HOA fees, rental restrictions, insurance, and future resale demand all matter a lot more here than with a SFH.
- The biggest thing early is to start looking at deals. The more listings you underwrite, the faster you’ll understand what’s realistic in terms of pricing, rents, and cash flow.
- If you’re comfortable with it, house hacking can be a great way to start — especially a duplex or small multifamily where you live in one unit and rent the others. It often improves cash flow and reduces risk early on. And usually it helps you with less housing costs which improves your cash flow to look for additional deals.
- Hope that helps, happy to answer any questions!
Cornerstone Real Estate Partners
View Page
0 Reply
Juan Yepes
Lender · Miami, FL · Member since 2025 · 123 posts · 34 votes
8mo
Certainly. I'll send you a DM now.
0 Reply
Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
8mo
@Ren Watt
Ren, congrats on graduating and landing the job. That’s a big milestone. I actually used to work at EY in Atlanta and that’s where I got my real estate portfolio started, so you’re in a market with a lot of opportunity.

Buying your first place at a young age absolutely makes sense, even with higher interest rates, as long as you’re thinking long term. The key thing to understand is that your first condo isn’t about being the dream investment or getting a bunch of tax benefits right away, it’s really about positioning.

I think a great place to start would be house hacking if you’re able to. That way you don’t have to jump through all the hoops of getting an investment loan, you can use a regular primary residence loan instead and maybe snag a lower interest rate. You also get firsthand experience managing a property and learning how it all works. There can still be tax benefits like deducting a portion of expenses, depreciation on the rental portion, and offsetting some of the rental income, and having a tenant help pay the mortgage lets you save and build toward your next home and investments.

Your first deal is about getting in the game. The strategy evolves as your income and portfolio grow. Good luck, and happy to connect.
[email protected]941-914-7779
INVESTOR FRIENDLY CPA®5241 Reviews
Website View Page
TaxMD® | AI-Powered Tax Planning
Website View Page
0 Reply
Berenger Greer
Property Manager · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2020 · 75 posts · 38 votes
8mo
Ren,
I'm a featured agent here in Atlanta who has had some success investing in, flipping, and leasing condos around the city.
It is a pretty nuanced approach that is difficult for investors due to many of these condominiums having rent restrictions.
Would be happy to talk on the phone when you have time to go over some of the methods I've found useful in working around these obstacles.
Thanks,
0 Reply

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.