From Knowing Nothing About Real Estate to Owning 3 Properties

Denver, Colorado
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From Knowing Nothing About Real Estate to Owning 3 Properties

Danielle DalyPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes

A little over five years ago, I was working in hospitality, feeling completely burnt out, not making great money, and honestly knew absolutely nothing about real estate investing.

Then I stumbled across a job opportunity at BiggerPockets after deciding to move across the country (I moved during the interview process by the way so nothing was actually locked in).

At the time, I had no idea how much that decision would change the trajectory of my life. Being surrounded by real estate education (and people who were actually out there investing) made me realize that building wealth through real estate wasn't something reserved for people who grew up around it or had a ton of money. It was something I could learn, too. So I did.

I bought my first property and house hacked it. Then I bought another. And eventually, a third.

Today, I own three properties, with my first two generating roughly $1,500/month in cash flow. The third is my current primary residence, and I'm renting out a room to my brother.

I definitely didn't have some master plan five years ago. I just started learning from BiggerPockets, attending a ton of meetups, reading a few books, and taking action. 

I'm sharing this because I know there's a lot of people on BiggerPockets who are where I was five years ago: burnt out, wanting something different, but feeling like they don't know enough about real estate to actually get started.

I can assure you that you don't have to know everything before getting started. I certainly didn't.

A few years can change a lot!

For those of you just diving into the world of investing, what first opened your eyes to real estate? And if you’re still on the sidelines, what’s holding you back from getting started?

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Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
1mo

Danielle, this is a great example of why the first property does not have to be perfect. It just needs to teach you enough to make the second decision better.

House hacking is especially useful because you get experience with tenants, repairs, financing, bookkeeping, and property operations while reducing your own housing cost. Once you start adding more properties, that experience compounds pretty quickly.

The tax side is worth paying attention to as the portfolio grows too. For the rental portions of the properties, I’d make sure the personal and rental use is allocated correctly, depreciation is being captured, and major repairs versus improvements are tracked separately.

For the properties that are now fully held as rentals, I’d also evaluate cost segregation if the numbers justify it. It may accelerate depreciation on qualifying components, but the important question is whether those losses are actually usable under your passive-loss situation.

Stories like this are a good reminder that consistency usually matters more than having the perfect plan at the beginning.

Happy to connect!

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  • Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
    CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1mo

    Danielle, this is a great example of why the first property does not have to be perfect. It just needs to teach you enough to make the second decision better.

    House hacking is especially useful because you get experience with tenants, repairs, financing, bookkeeping, and property operations while reducing your own housing cost. Once you start adding more properties, that experience compounds pretty quickly.

    The tax side is worth paying attention to as the portfolio grows too. For the rental portions of the properties, I’d make sure the personal and rental use is allocated correctly, depreciation is being captured, and major repairs versus improvements are tracked separately.

    For the properties that are now fully held as rentals, I’d also evaluate cost segregation if the numbers justify it. It may accelerate depreciation on qualifying components, but the important question is whether those losses are actually usable under your passive-loss situation.

    Stories like this are a good reminder that consistency usually matters more than having the perfect plan at the beginning.

    Happy to connect!

    [email protected]941-914-7779
    INVESTOR FRIENDLY CPA®5241 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    TaxMD™ | AI-Powered Tax Planning
    WebsiteView Page
    6Reply
    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      1mo

      I appreciate the helpful tips, Ashish! I've heard about cost segs but am not too familiar on whether I qualify and how it would benefit me - need to do a bit more research there. I'll reach out if I end up having more questions!

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
      0Reply
  • Logan HelmerickPro Member
    New to Real Estate · Denver, CO · Member since 2024 · 17 posts · 18 votes
    1mo

    Hey Danielle, 

    Didn't know a lot of this! Talk about taking a swing and trusting your intuition. 

    I think what comes up over and over as a hesitation for a lot of early investors is confidence. Do I know enough? Is my home market actually a good place to invest? Do I have the skillsets/ resources necessary to find a quickly cash flowing market and run it Out-of-State?

    What's abundantly clear is that every successful real estate investor did exactly what you do: they said "okay lets do it". There's going to be hiccups on that first property, there's going to be things that go south, but most importantly there's going to be lessons learned. The more education beforehand, the better, for sure. But half the battle is getting the foot in the door, so I love stories like this that exemplify the gutsy, yet inevitable move to push forward in that journey.

    [email protected]317-840-3799
    BiggerPockets
    5Reply
    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      1mo

      Thanks so much, Logan! I appreciate the kind words and totally agree that half the battle if just getting started. You don't have to know it all to put yourself in the position of learning by doing!

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
      0Reply
  • Garrett KeithPro Member
    New to Real Estate · Dubuque, Dubuque Iowa · Member since 2026 · 32 posts · 18 votes
    1mo

    Real estate is an attractive avenue for me because of how God made me. I believe He made me to do this, I think He has given me the tools to do a good job and the desire for quality and fairness towards others. I am still learning a ton and those tools are not super refined right now. I also love the fact that as an investor you get to choose how you want to do it and there are tons of different ways to invest in real estate. I love the fact that you aren't just putting money in an account and hoping to that the past returns stay the trend for the future and that's coming from someone who works in financial services. Everyones risk tolerances and risk capacities are different and for me real estate is right. I am very optimistic about my future in real estate, not that everything will be sunshine and roses but that I will slowly but surely be able to create a portfolio that serves me, my family, my community, and the Lord well.

    What's holding me back right now is capital. I am very much at the beginning of my real estate career and so things are slow right now, but I feel like I have a solid plan ahead and love investing in my home town. Property by property making it a better place to live and being a good fair landlord to people.

    Thank!

    1Reply
    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      1mo

      Thanks so much for sharing, Garrett! I really love your perspective on being a good person and landlord above just making money. We need more landlords like you out there, so keep going and you'll eventually get to where you want to be!

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
      0Reply
  • Justin Tulman
    Lender · Boca Raton, FL · Member since 2026 · 15 posts · 4 votes
    1mo

    Congratulations and very inspiring story!! Wishing you continued success!

    1Reply
  • David VelascoPro Member
    Investor · Washington DC · Member since 2024 · 12 posts · 1 vote
    1mo

    Great message and encouragement. Financial education and taking action is what marks the difference

    1Reply
  • Tomas Muller
    Member since 2025 · 26 posts · 17 votes
    4w

    Hello @Danielle Daly

    Congratulations on getting started and killing it at it. 

    I am in a similar position to where you were before you took that leap of faith. I have been an avid listener of BP's podcast, read a couple of books, and I'm ready to jump in soon. Your story is inspiring and encourages people like me to get going, despite some pessimism around the market nowadays.

    I would like to ask about your first property: did you have a mentor, or did you work with an agent to find it and make an offer? Which issue did you encounter in that process that you'd warn newbie investors to avoid or address? 

    Thank you for providing an inspiring story!

    4Reply
    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      4w

      Thank you so much, Tomas! This honestly means a lot, especially because I remember being in that exact position and feeling like I knew nothing about real estate. That changes with time and experience - we all need to start somewhere :)

      I didn’t have a formal mentor when I bought my first property, but working at BiggerPockets gave me access to a ton of education and people I could learn from. Attending meetups was hands down the most impactful thing I did as I dove into real estate, and the people I met along the way were the ones I'd consider "mentors" who I could call whenever I needed advice or help. I also worked with an investor-friendly agent which I’d highly recommend. Having someone who actually understands investing versus simply buying a primary residence made a huge difference as we were hunting for properties and analyzing them based on my specific strategy.

      My biggest advice would be don’t get so caught up trying to find the “perfect” first deal that you never buy one, but also don’t let excitement make you overlook the numbers. Run your assumptions conservatively, understand your true monthly expenses, and have reserves for the things that inevitably come up (I was comfortable with $10k reminaing in reserves when I bought my first house).

      My first property wasn’t perfect, but getting started taught me more than I ever could have learned from another year of podcasts and books. It sounds like you’ve already built a great foundation and are ready to jump in. Best of luck taking that next step!

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
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  • J CastroBusiness Member
    Lender · Florida · Member since 2025 · 661 posts · 239 votes
    4w

    This is such a great example of what taking that first step can lead to.

    I especially agree with the point that you don’t have to know everything before getting started. Real estate investing is a learning process, and there’s no substitute for getting educated, surrounding yourself with experienced people, and eventually taking action.

    House hacking is also a fantastic way for new investors to get their first foothold in real estate while learning the business.

    Three properties in five years—and $1,500/month in cash flow from the first two—is an impressive result. Congratulations on the journey!

    For anyone still on the sidelines, sometimes the biggest hurdle isn’t financing or finding the perfect deal—it’s simply believing you can actually do it.

    Keep learning. Run the numbers. Ask questions. Build your network. Then take action when the right opportunity comes along.

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    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      4w

      Thanks for the kind words, J! House hacking was the lowest barrier to entry for me so I couldn't agree more with your note about that strategy being a great place to start. I'm also from FL by the way - love the sunshine state! :)

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
      0Reply
  • David F.
    Member since 2018 · 113 posts · 135 votes
    4w

    Good post. I have a similar story… I'm totally not handy, knew very little about real estate, and felt I was probably one of the least qualified people to buy and manage a SFR, but decided to take some swings and bought a few local rentals and have stuck with it. I feel like it's easier with time, and have learned to mostly enjoy it…. I think it's gonna be a really good long-term thing.

    1Reply
    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      4w

      David that's incredible!! Sounds like you also dove right in and made it happen regardless of your handyman skills or knowledge - that all come with time and experience by doing. Kudos to you, and keep crushing it my friend!!

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
      0Reply
  • Mendy M.
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2024 · 26 posts · 31 votes
    4w

    A realistic and comprehensive response:

    I know many people—especially in recent years—who, after “pulling the trigger,” being patient, and continuously adding to their investments, eventually pulled out because they were losing money, realized it wasn’t worth their time, or determined that they could get a better return elsewhere with less effort and/or risk.

    Many of these people were patient and balanced individuals, including people with significant experience in other areas of real estate.

    There is a necessarily a G-D given right to success here.

    I’m not saying that there aren’t people who have done well with this strategy, or that you can’t do well with it. What I am saying is that you shouldn’t assume that the only thing holding you back is a fear of “pulling the trigger.” 😉 Sometimes, fears and hesitation have a legitimate basis.

    You really need to look closely at the details of what you’re doing and run the numbers using realistic expectations. Speak to local property managers and property owners to get a better understanding of actual vacancy and turnover costs, utilities, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and property management fees. Many of these expenses can be estimated with fairly hard numbers rather than simply relying on assumptions.

    You can also use this free calculator to estimate what your returns could realistically look like:

    https://www.calculator.net/rental-property-calculator.html

    The best of luck!

    1Reply
    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      4w

      Great feedback, Mendy! And totally fair point, I appreciate you adding this perspective. I definitely don’t think “pulling the trigger” automatically leads to success, or that hesitation is always something to overcome.

      For me, taking action came after running the numbers, educating myself, and making sure the deal made sense. I’ve absolutely passed on properties that didn’t work based on my research. There’s always risk involved, and what worked for me won’t necessarily work for everyone.

      My main takeaway was that I personally could have let fear keep me from ever starting, even when the numbers supported the decision (I know many people who deal with analysis paralysis). There’s definitely a balance between doing your due diligence and recognizing when fear, rather than the fundamentals, is what’s holding you back.

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
      0Reply
  • James J. Rezendes IIBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · RI · Member since 2026 · 19 posts · 7 votes
    4w

    This hits different when you've actually lived it. Love that you're not overselling it—just real.

    Most people stuck on "I don't know enough yet" never move. You literally moved during your interview process. That's the energy.

    $1,500/month from two properties is solid, and house hacking the first one was the smart play. That's how you actually learn—not from podcasts, but from dealing with tenants and watching your money work. School of Hard Knocks! 

    You nailed it: you don't need the master plan. You need education, community, and the guts to actually buy something. Most people get stuck on those first two forever.

    Five years, three properties, cash flow already rolling. That's a trajectory most people won't have because they're waiting to feel "ready."

    1Reply
  • Garrett BrownPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2024 · 504 posts · 549 votes
    4w

    Crushing it Danielle!! This is the definition of fitting the best real estate investing strategies that work for you and staying consistent.

    [email protected]
    BiggerPockets
    1Reply
  • Jimmy LieuBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4w
    Quote from @Danielle Daly:

    A little over five years ago, I was working in hospitality, feeling completely burnt out, not making great money, and honestly knew absolutely nothing about real estate investing.

    Then I stumbled across a job opportunity at BiggerPockets after deciding to move across the country (I moved during the interview process by the way so nothing was actually locked in).

    At the time, I had no idea how much that decision would change the trajectory of my life. Being surrounded by real estate education (and people who were actually out there investing) made me realize that building wealth through real estate wasn't something reserved for people who grew up around it or had a ton of money. It was something I could learn, too. So I did.

    I bought my first property and house hacked it. Then I bought another. And eventually, a third.

    Today, I own three properties, with my first two generating roughly $1,500/month in cash flow. The third is my current primary residence, and I'm renting out a room to my brother.

    I definitely didn't have some master plan five years ago. I just started learning from BiggerPockets, attending a ton of meetups, reading a few books, and taking action. 

    I'm sharing this because I know there's a lot of people on BiggerPockets who are where I was five years ago: burnt out, wanting something different, but feeling like they don't know enough about real estate to actually get started.

    I can assure you that you don't have to know everything before getting started. I certainly didn't.

    A few years can change a lot!

    For those of you just diving into the world of investing, what first opened your eyes to real estate? And if you’re still on the sidelines, what’s holding you back from getting started?

    Love this, Danielle. I can relate to the idea of not having everything figured out before taking that first step. I moved from Portland to Columbus in 2020 specifically to start investing, without really knowing anyone locally, and my first deal was a house hack too. Looking back, taking action and learning through the actual process taught me things I never would have picked up just from reading or analyzing deals. There’s definitely value in educating yourself, but at some point you have to accept that you won’t know everything before deal #1. Five years of consistent action can make a huge difference. 

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    1Reply
  • Arman AhmedPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 904 votes
    3w
    Quote from @Danielle Daly:

    A little over five years ago, I was working in hospitality, feeling completely burnt out, not making great money, and honestly knew absolutely nothing about real estate investing.

    Then I stumbled across a job opportunity at BiggerPockets after deciding to move across the country (I moved during the interview process by the way so nothing was actually locked in).

    At the time, I had no idea how much that decision would change the trajectory of my life. Being surrounded by real estate education (and people who were actually out there investing) made me realize that building wealth through real estate wasn't something reserved for people who grew up around it or had a ton of money. It was something I could learn, too. So I did.

    I bought my first property and house hacked it. Then I bought another. And eventually, a third.

    Today, I own three properties, with my first two generating roughly $1,500/month in cash flow. The third is my current primary residence, and I'm renting out a room to my brother.

    I definitely didn't have some master plan five years ago. I just started learning from BiggerPockets, attending a ton of meetups, reading a few books, and taking action. 

    I'm sharing this because I know there's a lot of people on BiggerPockets who are where I was five years ago: burnt out, wanting something different, but feeling like they don't know enough about real estate to actually get started.

    I can assure you that you don't have to know everything before getting started. I certainly didn't.

    A few years can change a lot!

    For those of you just diving into the world of investing, what first opened your eyes to real estate? And if you’re still on the sidelines, what’s holding you back from getting started?

    Love this, Danielle. Three properties in five years is a great reminder that you don’t need to have everything figured out before taking the first step. House hacking and learning as you go can build momentum. The biggest thing is probably just getting started, staying consistent, and letting each deal teach you something for the next one. Congrats on the progress!

    [email protected]614-418-6081
    1Reply
  • Candice CoatesPro Member
    New to Real Estate · DMV · Member since 2022 · 53 posts · 45 votes
    3w

    This is such an encouraging post! I am hoping to gain a second property too after I have my feet planted a little more on managing a rental. I need to dive more into our podcasts for the financing solutions.

    Did you purchase your properties when the interest rates were low? Do you mind sharing the financing strategies that worked in your market? That might be worth a new post within itself, lol!

    [email protected]301-381-1045
    BiggerPockets
    2Reply
    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      3w

      Thanks Candice!! I was fortunate to purchase my first property when rates were a bit lower (5.1%), which definitely helped. But honestly, one of the biggest things that worked for me was house hacking, especially since my other two properties are both 6.6% rates, so not much lower than what we're seeing now. I lived in the properties and rented out the additional rooms, which helped offset a significant portion of my housing costs while I built equity and learned how to actually manage rentals.

      I think financing is such an important piece, especially in today’s market where the numbers can be tighter. I’d definitely explore the different owner-occupied financing options available if you’re open to house hacking since they can make getting into that next property much more attainable than purchasing it strictly as an investment.

      And yes I agree, financing strategies could be a whole separate post 😂

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
      1Reply
    • Candice CoatesPro Member
      New to Real Estate · DMV · Member since 2022 · 53 posts · 45 votes
      3w

      Ha! Right, because there are clever ways to finance deals. Looking forward to that post.


      For my next home, I want to house hack for sure. My area is really expensive to be in a semi-decent neighborhood. It will have to be the right price for me to move forward. If it were just me, I wouldn't care, but with my mini, I have to be more thoughtful lol.

      [email protected]301-381-1045
      BiggerPockets
      0Reply
  • Timothy W Hanson
    Investor · Minnesota/Wisconsin/Iowa · Member since 2019 · 49 posts · 77 votes
    3w

    Congratulations! What are your plans next? Are you planning to buy more?

    0Reply
    • Danielle DalyPro Member
      OP
      Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 52 posts · 74 votes
      3w

      Thanks Timothy!! I don't have an exact game plan right now, but working to figure out where to go from here. I think I'm all set on house hacking (totally worth it but the roommate phase of my life is over haha) so I'm brainstorming other options. But yes absolutely planning to buy for real estate in the near future :)

      [email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #70
      1Reply
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