Real Estate Rookie Advice

Raleigh, NC · Member since 2026 · 1 post · 1 vote

Hey everyone! I'm in the process of closing on my second investment property here in Raleigh and am excited to keep building our portfolio over the next few years.

My fiancée and I both have backgrounds in construction, although our experience isn't primarily in residential projects. Along the way, we've developed detailed renovation budget trackers, cost-effective finish specifications, and realistic renovation schedules, but we know there's still a lot to learn.

We're looking to connect with other investors in the Raleigh area who are working toward similar goals. We'd love to hear what's worked well for you, learn from your experiences, and, in return, share the systems and lessons we've picked up along the way. Very much open to mentorship if willing but a simple convo is also perfect. Looking forward to connecting!

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Ryan Manning

Raleigh NC · Member since 2025 · 1 post · 1 vote

2mo

Lets connect, im a young realtor and investor in Raleigh but have a lot of applicable knowledge!

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Andrew PostellPro Member
Lender · Fort Worth, TX · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 6k+ votes
2mo
@Alec Bolger local real estate meetup groups is where you need to go. Meetup.com is a good resource for those but some of the groups will also post here on Bigger Pockets Marketplace too. Even facebook might have some good local groups for you. Some of those facebook groups have thousands of members. Oh, eventbrite too. But go local to connect with local people. That’s the best bet.
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Ryan Manning
Raleigh NC · Member since 2025 · 1 post · 1 vote
2mo
Lets connect, im a young realtor and investor in Raleigh but have a lot of applicable knowledge!
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Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
2mo
Congrats on closing number two, and having a construction background going in is going to pay off more on the tax side than most investors realize. Since you two are already tracking renovation budgets and specs in detail, that same discipline applies directly to how you categorize costs for depreciation, repairs versus capital improvements need to be split out item by item, and having a clean cost breakdown from your own tracking system makes that classification a lot cleaner than trying to reconstruct it from receipts later.

Worth getting a cost segregation study done on this Raleigh property if you haven't already, since you're already itemizing renovation costs closely, that data is exactly what makes a cost seg study more accurate and often cheaper to execute. As you keep building the portfolio, also worth deciding early whether you're going to materially participate and pursue real estate professional status given your construction background naturally lends itself to hands-on involvement, that status is what lets your rental losses offset other income rather than sitting passive.

Happy to connect!
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Sean O'KeefePro Member
CPA | Accepting new clients | 50 States · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 871 votes
2mo
Quote from @Alec Bolger:

Hey everyone! I'm in the process of closing on my second investment property here in Raleigh and am excited to keep building our portfolio over the next few years.

My fiancée and I both have backgrounds in construction, although our experience isn't primarily in residential projects. Along the way, we've developed detailed renovation budget trackers, cost-effective finish specifications, and realistic renovation schedules, but we know there's still a lot to learn.

We're looking to connect with other investors in the Raleigh area who are working toward similar goals. We'd love to hear what's worked well for you, learn from your experiences, and, in return, share the systems and lessons we've picked up along the way. Very much open to mentorship if willing but a simple convo is also perfect. Looking forward to connecting!

Congrats on number two, and @Ryan Manning right that connecting with someone local like him is worth doing early. @Andrew Postell's meetup advice is solid too, that's usually the fastest way to build a real team. @Ashish Acharya's point on cost seg and real estate professional status is a good one given your construction background, that combination is exactly the kind of thing a lot of investors qualify for on paper but never actually claim because they don't track it properly.

REPS gets tested per person, not per household, until you're married and filing jointly, and since you mentioned a fiancée and not a spouse, this is worth thinking through now. So if one of you logs the 750+ hours and qualifies but the other doesn't, only the qualifying person's share of the losses gets to offset other income, the other person's share stays passive no matter how many hours the two of you put in combined.

This post does not create a CPA-client relationship. The information contained in this post is not to be relied upon. Readers are advised to seek professional advice.

[email protected]628-241-0888
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Erika Sullivan
Real Estate Agent · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 1 vote
1mo
Congratulations on closing on your second investment property! It sounds like you and your fiancée have a great foundation with your construction backgrounds. I'm new to the real estate industry and work with investors here in North Carolina, so I'm always looking to learn from experienced people in the space. I'd love to connect and follow your journey!
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Mohammed Rahman
Real Estate Broker · New York, NY · Member since 2020 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
1mo
Hi Alec,
Construction is an amazing background to have in real estate, especially if you're planning to do value-add deals. You already have a great foundation. I'd also look into your local REIA groups. They're a great way to meet other investors, hear about what people are actually doing in your market, and build relationships with people who can share what's worked for them.
That said, I may be a little biased when I say this haha, but having a good broker/agent on your side can be really valuable too. The right agent isn’t just opening doors for you. They can help you find off-market or less obvious opportunities, pull comps, understand what’s happening at the neighborhood level, help you structure offers, and spot potential issues with a property before you get too far into a deal.

Especially as you start doing more deals, having someone who understands your investment criteria and knows what you’re looking for can save you a ton of time.
All the best to you! Feel free to reach out anytime - my DMs are always open!!
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Arman AhmedPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 924 votes
1mo
Quote from @Alec Bolger:

Hey everyone! I'm in the process of closing on my second investment property here in Raleigh and am excited to keep building our portfolio over the next few years.

My fiancée and I both have backgrounds in construction, although our experience isn't primarily in residential projects. Along the way, we've developed detailed renovation budget trackers, cost-effective finish specifications, and realistic renovation schedules, but we know there's still a lot to learn.

We're looking to connect with other investors in the Raleigh area who are working toward similar goals. We'd love to hear what's worked well for you, learn from your experiences, and, in return, share the systems and lessons we've picked up along the way. Very much open to mentorship if willing but a simple convo is also perfect. Looking forward to connecting!

Sounds like you two already have a great advantage with the construction background and systems you’ve built. Honestly, being able to control rehab costs and timelines is huge in this business. Keep networking with other investors and sharing what you’re learning along the way. If you’re ever open to looking outside Raleigh, the Midwest can be interesting for investors who want lower acquisition costs and value-add opportunities.
[email protected]614-418-6081
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