How do I get into real estate
Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 5 votes
How do I get into real estate
Most Popular Reply
Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8moQuote from @Tate Cutler:
I am about to graduate with a finance degree from Auburn University. I want to get into real estate investment, flipping and long term rental but I need to build capital and want to start by wholesaling because it is something I an do while working a corprate finance job this next year at the same time. Hoping to get 1 deal done a month. Is this possible? Does anyone have any good mentors that would be willing to help me?
Just my opinion but you need capital to wholesale & do one deal per month. That captial will be deployed towards marketing, setting up systems to manage your deals and Earnest Money Deposits. The marketing will be to develop your buyers list along with potential sellers. Without this you'll get very frustrated. You also need to examine the laws in the state that you plan to wholesale to understand what you can & cannot do without a real estate license.
My recommendation- get a real estate license- Not to become a realtor representing the public, but to have access to resources that many investors use that aren't necessarily available to the general public. Example- I have access to propert information for every property in my State (Absentee; preforeclosure, mortgage rates,.....) Some property owners we approach to make offers in lieu of trying to get a listing.
I also recommend researching investor friendly brokerage or realtor near you & join if you decide to get a license or partner if you don't get a license. Then leverage the relationship to learn.
18 Replies
- Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes8mo
I would start with a house hack. Get situated in your job, save up for a owner occupant loan, build your credit and do a 2-4 unit. Wholesaling is doable but house hacking is simple and repeatable. Doing a house hack gets you in the door while saving on what you'd pay for rent or a mortgage.
- Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 5 votes8mo
Quote from @Caleb Brown:
I would start with a house hack. Get situated in your job, save up for a owner occupant loan, build your credit and do a 2-4 unit. Wholesaling is doable but house hacking is simple and repeatable. Doing a house hack gets you in the door while saving on what you'd pay for rent or a mortgage.
Okay thank you this is great advice, I understand househacking and real estate investing way more than wholesaling and much more comfortable with it. This might be a better strategy with where I am at and what I want to do.
- Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes8mo
Quote from @Tate Cutler:
Quote from @Caleb Brown:
I would start with a house hack. Get situated in your job, save up for a owner occupant loan, build your credit and do a 2-4 unit. Wholesaling is doable but house hacking is simple and repeatable. Doing a house hack gets you in the door while saving on what you'd pay for rent or a mortgage.
Okay thank you this is great advice, I understand househacking and real estate investing way more than wholesaling and much more comfortable with it. This might be a better strategy with where I am at and what I want to do.
I think it's a simple way to start. Wholesaling is doable and many do it but it takes time and money to learn. That same time and $$ can be spent doing a house hack. You can always do wholesaling at anytime but it's starting a business, that means it takes time and money to get it off the ground. If you have limited time you won't see the results or fruit.
- Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 5 votes8mo
Quote from @Caleb Brown:
Quote from @Tate Cutler:
Quote from @Caleb Brown:
I would start with a house hack. Get situated in your job, save up for a owner occupant loan, build your credit and do a 2-4 unit. Wholesaling is doable but house hacking is simple and repeatable. Doing a house hack gets you in the door while saving on what you'd pay for rent or a mortgage.
Okay thank you this is great advice, I understand househacking and real estate investing way more than wholesaling and much more comfortable with it. This might be a better strategy with where I am at and what I want to do.
I think it's a simple way to start. Wholesaling is doable and many do it but it takes time and money to learn. That same time and $$ can be spent doing a house hack. You can always do wholesaling at anytime but it's starting a business, that means it takes time and money to get it off the ground. If you have limited time you won't see the results or fruit.
Yeah that makes sense not something I really want to do but I know I want to start now in real estate I think this is a great Idea thank you. Do you know how long I have to live in the property for it be legal I know there is a minimum number of years. Do you know what that is? If not all good I can figure it out.
- Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes8moYou have to occupy 1 year before moving out and renting so very minimal.
- Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 5 votes8mo
Quote from @Caleb Brown:
You have to occupy 1 year before moving out and renting so very minimal.Oh awesome that is nothing thank you!
- 8moCamren BerryPro MemberAZ · Member since 2021 · 86 posts · 14 votes
Congrats on getting your degree. Wholesaling while working full-time is definitely possible, but getting to a deal a month usually takes consistent marketing, tight follow-up, and some time to build relationships with both sellers and buyers. normally it takes 6-12 months for your first deal to be realistic. The biggest wins normally come from focusing on one market and getting really good at solving seller problems. My team works with investors across a few markets, and we actually utilize a strategy that allows you to buy rental properties with no money down. So if you ever want some advice or help, let me know. You’re thinking about this early, which already puts you ahead of the curve.
- 8moAaron ZimmermanBusiness MemberAccountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votesHow much do you expect to make and how much do you expect to save? I would focus on the fundamentals of personal finance first, then start networking with local investors to build your network, and house hack. The low down payment options are solid and reduce barrier to entry. On the wholesaling front, finding deals is a great skill to have but as others have said, you really need a marketing engine to keep it moving Which also requires capital
Brick House CPAs53 Reviews - Wholesaler · Portsmouth NH · Member since 2019 · 204 posts · 94 votes8mo
Tate, yes, one deal a month is possible while working full time, but only if you keep it simple and consistent.
If I were starting over, I would pick one outbound channel first (cold call or text), run it 90 days, and focus on tired landlords and high equity lists. Pull your data in PropStream, manage leads and follow up in Podio or REsimpli, and use DocuSign or Dotloop to get contracts signed fast. Most beginners lose because they talk to sellers once and never follow up.
Feel free to shoot me a dm and I can share more on this! - Investor · Get yourself trained before doing something inadvisable. · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes8moYour degree is worthless in real estate. Yes, I have an advanced agree and it didn't make me rich. It got in the way. So, set aside the degree and focus on learning real estate as though it matters. There are a lot of ways to go "sideways" with real estate and you can't know every way off the bat. But focus, focus, focus, get in with the right people, (Join a REIA in your area) and take action. Even if it's seemingly wasted action. You'll learn one of two ways, start and learn all that you can by experience or hook up with someone that knows what they're doing. Avoid the get rich quick schemes and the blather you hear on youtube. Get someone doing what you want to learn, have them outline a course of action and run hard.
Quote from @Tate Cutler:
I am about to graduate with a finance degree from Auburn University. I want to get into real estate investment, flipping and long term rental but I need to build capital and want to start by wholesaling because it is something I an do while working a corprate finance job this next year at the same time. Hoping to get 1 deal done a month. Is this possible? Does anyone have any good mentors that would be willing to help me?
- Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes8mo
Quote from @Tate Cutler:
I am about to graduate with a finance degree from Auburn University. I want to get into real estate investment, flipping and long term rental but I need to build capital and want to start by wholesaling because it is something I an do while working a corprate finance job this next year at the same time. Hoping to get 1 deal done a month. Is this possible? Does anyone have any good mentors that would be willing to help me?
Just my opinion but you need capital to wholesale & do one deal per month. That captial will be deployed towards marketing, setting up systems to manage your deals and Earnest Money Deposits. The marketing will be to develop your buyers list along with potential sellers. Without this you'll get very frustrated. You also need to examine the laws in the state that you plan to wholesale to understand what you can & cannot do without a real estate license.
My recommendation- get a real estate license- Not to become a realtor representing the public, but to have access to resources that many investors use that aren't necessarily available to the general public. Example- I have access to propert information for every property in my State (Absentee; preforeclosure, mortgage rates,.....) Some property owners we approach to make offers in lieu of trying to get a listing.
I also recommend researching investor friendly brokerage or realtor near you & join if you decide to get a license or partner if you don't get a license. Then leverage the relationship to learn. - 7moBo SmithPro MemberHinton, WV · Member since 2026 · 1k+ posts · 373 votes
Yeah 1 deal a month is totally doable while working corporate, especially coming from finance. The trick is being consistent with your daily activity, even if it's just 30 mins after work. Most new wholesalers don't track their ratios from the start - calls to conversations, conversations to appointments, appointments to deals. That data becomes gold when you're trying to scale. What's your game plan for finding leads while juggling the day job?
- 7moBo SmithPro MemberHinton, WV · Member since 2026 · 1k+ posts · 373 votes1 deal/month is totally doable but you'll need a system. Most new wholesalers burn out because they don't track the right metrics - it's not just about finding deals, it's about consistent follow-up. I'd focus on the 20-5-1 rule: 20 leads per week, skip trace 5 of the hottest ones, book 1 appointment. The real money is in the follow-up game. What's your plan for staying consistent with leads while juggling corporate finance hours?
Quote from @Tate Cutler:
I am about to graduate with a finance degree from Auburn University. I want to get into real estate investment, flipping and long term rental but I need to build capital and want to start by wholesaling because it is something I an do while working a corprate finance job this next year at the same time. Hoping to get 1 deal done a month. Is this possible? Does anyone have any good mentors that would be willing to help me?
- Wholesaler · Portsmouth NH · Member since 2019 · 204 posts · 94 votes7mo
Hey Tate! Wholesaling while you have a full time job can definitely work.
I started wholesaling / bird dogging in college and closed 25+ deals in 2 years doing it part-time. 1 deal a month is absolutely realistic if you stay consistent with your marketing.
Here's what worked for me when I started:
- Block out 1-2 hours a day, 3-4 days a week for cold calling and texting or whatever marketing strategy you choose. If you go the cold call / sms route, pull data from PropStream or Propwire (free option) and focus on motivated sellers - high equity, absentee owners, pre-foreclosure. We use Launch Control for texting and BatchDialer for calls. Happy to share discount codes for those platforms.- Since you'll be working full-time, find a time in the evening where you can dedicate to do your marketing and or weekends. All about consistency!
- With your finance background, you'll pick up deal analysis quickly.
- Once you close 3-5 wholesale deals, you'll have enough to fund your first flip or rental down payment.
- Investor · Costa Mesa, CA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes7mo
Tate, many beginners see wholesaling as a way to raise capital and "get into" real estate. Its usually not. For most people wholesaling is a colossal waste of time and energy. Its usually better to save your money and educate yourself about real investing vs some pie in the sky, YouTube, buy 100 D class properties and cash flow nonsense. Take your time. Don't worry about "scaling quickly." Buy fewer but better properties. Best of luck.
- 7moTerrance HillPro MemberRealtor · Memphis, TN · Member since 2010 · 425 posts · 117 votes
Hi Tate,
Congrats on finishing your degree soon! Starting with wholesaling while working a corporate job is definitely doable, especially if you focus on building a solid buyers list and motivated seller leads. Hitting one deal a month is ambitious but possible with consistent effort and good systems.
I’d be happy to connect and share some tips on lead generation, deal analysis, and finding mentors in the space—let’s stay in touch!
- Investor · Get yourself trained before doing something inadvisable. · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes6mo@Tate Cutler: Since you proudly admit to "about to graduate with a finance degree from Auburn University" you must understand the value of paying for what you get.
Quote from @Tate Cutler:
I am about to graduate with a finance degree from Auburn University. I want to get into real estate investment, flipping and long term rental but I need to build capital and want to start by wholesaling because it is something I an do while working a corprate finance job this next year at the same time. Hoping to get 1 deal done a month. Is this possible? Does anyone have any good mentors that would be willing to help me?
Surely, you aren't suggesting someone with experience and who is a professional, donate their time and expertise when you say "Does anyone have any good mentors that would be willing to help me?" ??
As they taught you in school?, which I hope you didn't go too deeply in debt for, you get what you pay for. :-)
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