New Investor from Austin, TX – Excited to Learn!

Austin, Texas
New Member Introductions
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New Investor from Austin, TX – Excited to Learn!

Gagan Pabby
Member since 2023 · 1 post · 3 votes

Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!

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Jordan MoorheadBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
2mo
Quote from @Gagan Pabby:

Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!


 Come out to our next Austin Investor Social Hour! Tarl Yarber and I host them the second thursday of every month.

[email protected]512-888-9122
The Moorhead Team5140 Reviews
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  • Ken M.
    Investor · Get yourself trained before doing something inadvisable. · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2mo
    Quote from @Gagan Pabby:

    Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!

    Well, a bit twiddler that wants wants to invest. :-) I started out as a COBOL programmer. I know you have to look that one up to even know what it is. Going to real estate was the best decision I made for me. TX is a good market but Austin is a bit spendy for investing. I 'd look at the South of Austin I-35 corridor say Buda, to San Antonio to Houston. Lots of opportunities. Be careful of how you buy, there's plenty of new builds to compete with and a new builder's financing is part of your competition.
    0Reply
  • Arman AhmedPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 914 votes
    2mo
    Quote from @Gagan Pabby:

    Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!


    You're starting in the right place by learning before making the first purchase. As you build your strategy, don't just focus on where you live, focus on where the numbers make sense. A lot of first-time investors are comparing markets like Austin with Midwest opportunities, where lower acquisition costs can create more room for cash flow and growth. Keep networking, analyze plenty of deals, and build your team early.
    [email protected]614-418-6081
    0Reply
  • Joseph CacciapagliaBusiness Member
    Lender · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2mo

    Welcome to the community. You're in good company. I've worked with tons of investors who worked with software as their day job. A couple even moved into investing full time. It's great having a strong W2 to support your investing journey early on though.

    I'm in San Antonio, and don't make it up to Austin too often. I do a lot of work in between the two cities though. Seguin has been an interesting market to follow, depending on what exactly you're looking for. Feel free to connect. I'm always happy to meet other Texas investors. 

    [email protected]979-218-2286
    Joseph Cacciapaglia powered by Morty
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    1Reply
  • Jordan MoorheadBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    2mo
    Quote from @Gagan Pabby:

    Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!


     Come out to our next Austin Investor Social Hour! Tarl Yarber and I host them the second thursday of every month.

    [email protected]512-888-9122
    The Moorhead Team5140 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
    • Reynaldo Cruz
      Member since 2025 · 2 posts · 0 votes
      1mo
      Quote from @Jordan Moorhead:
      Quote from @Gagan Pabby:

      Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!


       Come out to our next Austin Investor Social Hour! Tarl Yarber and I host them the second thursday of every month.


       Where?

      0Reply
    • Jordan MoorheadBusiness Member
      Real Estate Agent · Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
      1mo
      Quote from @Reynaldo Cruz:
      Quote from @Jordan Moorhead:
      Quote from @Gagan Pabby:

      Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!


       Come out to our next Austin Investor Social Hour! Tarl Yarber and I host them the second thursday of every month.


       Where?


      https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/1295952-aust...
      [email protected]512-888-9122
      The Moorhead Team5140 Reviews
      WebsiteView Page
      0Reply
  • Janice Carter
    Real Estate Broker · Atlanta · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 605 votes
    2mo

    @Gagan Pabby Welcome to the BP community! You are in a great place to learn from experienced investors. Before buying your first investment property, I would recommend joining a local REIA group and building a strong team of professionals. Wishing you much success as you grow your rental portfolio.

    0Reply
  • Robin SimonBusiness Member
    Lender · Austin, TX · Member since 2022 · 5k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    2mo
    Quote from @Gagan Pabby:

    Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!


     Hi - would be happy to connect, I know lots of great investor-friendly agents, property managers, financing options here in town, let me know if you want an intro anywhere or to just connect

    [email protected]
    Harpoon Capital514 Reviews
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    0Reply
  • Mike Peoples
    Member since 2026 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    2mo

    I am excited for your journey Gagan good luck to you 

    0Reply
  • Dmitriy Fomichenko
    Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    1mo

    Hello Gagan, It's great to have you here!

    Read Beginner’s Guide to help you get started: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing

    Wishing you the best!

    0Reply
  • Federico PortalupiPro Member
    Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2017 · 46 posts · 19 votes
    1mo
    Quote from @Gagan Pabby:

    Hi everyone! I’m Gagan, a software engineer based in the Austin/Leander, Texas area. I’m looking to buy my first investment property and am here to learn from experienced investors, understand different markets, and build a long-term rental portfolio. Looking forward to connecting and learning from this community!


     good luck man.. im back on bp after 7 years just catching up. but if you need an agent in city i would be happy to help out. 

    0Reply
  • Alyssa MarquezBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · San Antonio TX / Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2023 · 117 posts · 26 votes
    3w

    Hey Gagan! Your in a market that is ripe for learning the Texas ropes. I would focus on very tight tracking of your buy box and really working the numbers on many properties even without intending to make an offer.

    Likewise establishing a network of local investors and an investor-friendly agent and lender will be your ticket to figuring out what actually works in this market (Austin/Leander).

    Your off to learn this business one transaction at a time, good luck growing this first one into a portfolio.

    1Reply
  • Matt Hiltner
    Lender · Denver, CO · Member since 2021 · 41 posts · 11 votes
    2w

    @Gagan Pabby Welcome, Gagan — software engineer to rental investor is a natural fit; a lot of the systems-thinking that makes you good at your day job translates directly to underwriting deals and building repeatable processes for acquisitions.

    One thing I'd flag before you even start looking at properties: how you finance your first deal matters more than most new buy-and-hold investors realize. A lot of people default to whatever their personal bank offers because it's familiar, without knowing there's a whole category of investment-property lending (DSCR loans, portfolio lenders, etc.) built specifically around how rentals actually perform — qualifying off the property's cash flow rather than purely your personal income/DTI, faster closes, and terms structured for investors instead of owner-occupants. Depending on your situation, that can open up options a conventional bank loan won't.

    The bigger reason to sort this out now rather than after you find a deal: whatever financing approach you set up on property #1 becomes the template for #2, #3, and beyond. Get the relationship and the process figured out early, and scaling gets a lot smoother — versus learning it under pressure with an accepted offer and a clock running.

    I'm on the lending side of real estate — happy to walk through how investment lending differs from a standard bank mortgage, what you'd actually qualify for, and how to think about structuring the first deal so it sets up the next ones. No pressure to have a property lined up first — honestly a better time to talk is before you're under contract, not after.

    0Reply
  • Brad SeidBusiness Member
    Lender · Licensed in 28 States · Member since 2026 · 127 posts · 33 votes
    2w

    @Gagan Pabby Welcome to the community, Gagan! Austin/Leander is a great area to start exploring. If you’re looking at your first investment property and want to explore financing options, feel free to reach out. Happy to help! 👍

    [email protected]248-408-3855
    West Capital Lending5122 Reviews
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    0Reply
  • Blake Anthony CarterBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Austin, TX · Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 47 votes
    2w

    Come through to one of our meetups in Austin!

    0Reply
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