New Investor in Hampton Roads Seeking Mentorship and Real Estate Connections

Norfolk, Virginia
Starting Out
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New Investor in Hampton Roads Seeking Mentorship and Real Estate Connections

Shakeywa Bell
New to Real Estate · VA · Member since 2026 · 1 post · 2 votes

Hello everyone! I'm a proud Marine Corps veteran and the Managing Member of Bell Premier Solutions LLC, a new real estate investment company based in Norfolk, Virginia.

I'm just getting started in real estate investing, and my goal is to purchase properties, renovate them, and eventually build a portfolio of rental homes. One thing I'm especially passionate about is creating housing opportunities for veterans. As a veteran myself, this is something that means a lot to me.

I'm currently looking to connect with experienced investors in the Hampton Roads area who are willing to share advice, offer mentorship, or potentially explore a partnership on a future fix-and-flip project.

I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm motivated, serious about building my business, and excited to connect with people who have already found success in this industry.

For those who started with limited capital, how did you fund your first investment property? Did you work with a private investor or find a partner?

I'd love to hear your experiences and connect with others in the area!

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  • Elijah RodriguezPro Member
    Investor · Waxahachie, TX · Member since 2025 · 15 posts · 6 votes
    3d

    Hi Shakeywa. Thank you for your service and congrats on starting your real estate investing journey. I wish you good luck and I hope you find what youre looking for.

    0Reply
  • John Leland
    Specialist · I give advice - [email protected] - I focus on states where investing is profitable, reasonably safe & secure · Member since 2026 · 140 posts · 47 votes
    2d
    Quote from @Shakeywa Bell:

    Hello everyone! I'm a proud Marine Corps veteran and the Managing Member of Bell Premier Solutions LLC, a new real estate investment company based in Norfolk, Virginia.

    I'm just getting started in real estate investing, and my goal is to purchase properties, renovate them, and eventually build a portfolio of rental homes. One thing I'm especially passionate about is creating housing opportunities for veterans. As a veteran myself, this is something that means a lot to me.

    I'm currently looking to connect with experienced investors in the Hampton Roads area who are willing to share advice, offer mentorship, or potentially explore a partnership on a future fix-and-flip project.

    I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm motivated, serious about building my business, and excited to connect with people who have already found success in this industry.

    For those who started with limited capital, how did you fund your first investment property? Did you work with a private investor or find a partner?

    I'd love to hear your experiences and connect with others in the area!

    There are "creative finance" ways to get started and it takes discipline to make them work.

    Also learn how each type of sale is taxed. It makes a very big difference.

    0Reply
  • Matthew MorrowBusiness Member
    Investor · PA - NY - NJ · Member since 2019 · 674 posts · 235 votes
    2d

    @Shakeywa Bell thank you for your service. I started with one property, not a big pile of capital. I lived in my first flip, fixed it up, and used that equity for the next one. Since you're a vet, ask a lender about VA options on a small multifamily you'd live in. It can be a low-cash way to start and it lines up with the veteran housing focus. If you bring in a partner, put who brings what and who gets what in writing up front. Welcome aboard.

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  • Robin SimonBusiness Member
    Lender · Austin, TX · Member since 2022 · 5k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    2d

    Welcome to BP and thank you for your service! One thing you didn't mention that's probably the best limited-capital play out there as a vet - the VA loan lets you buy up to a 4-unit with $0 down as long as you live in one of the units, so a small multifamily house hack in Norfolk can get you started and cash flowing without needing a partner or private money.

    For the investment properties after that, DSCR loans are worth looking into since they're LLC-friendly (so you can close in Bell Premier Solutions LLC) and qualify off the property's rent instead of your personal income, and theres programs out there for first-time investors with as little as 15% down, plus "no-seasoning" cash-out refis if you go the BRRRR route on a rehab. Are you thinking of living in the first one or going straight to rentals?

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  • Ametria Chaney
    Realtor · Memphis, Shelby County · Member since 2026 · 71 posts · 16 votes
    2d

    Shakeywa, thank you for your service — and welcome to the community. Since you're starting with limited capital, the highest-leverage move is usually the one that gets you in with the least cash out of pocket: a VA loan on a small multifamily you live in lets you house hack with very little down, and it lines up perfectly with your veteran-housing mission. Beyond that, plug into the Hampton Roads investor meetups and REIAs — mentorship usually comes from relationships, not programs, and showing up consistently is how those form. If you partner on a flip, put everything in writing up front: who funds what, who does the work, and how profits split. And find an investor-friendly local agent early — good ones will run comps for you and flag off-market opportunities before you're ready to compete on the MLS. What's your timeline for the first purchase?

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  • James Loffredo
    Lender · Dallas, TX · Member since 2024 · 7 posts · 2 votes
    1d

    Thank you for your service, Shakeywa. The VA advice above is right; here's the fix and flip side of your question.

    Plenty of lenders will work with a first-time borrower. The easiest path is bringing on a partner with experience as a member of your entity, usually at 25 to 50% ownership. Their track record gets you higher leverage and better pricing, and you’ve got someone to answer the questions on deal one. People find that partner in local investors, and often in contractors who’ve flipped a few themselves.

    How the money works: the lender funds a share of the purchase and funds the rehab in draws as work is completed and inspected. You bring the balance of the purchase, closing costs and the first stretch of rehab. Experienced borrowers can reach 90% of purchase and 100% of rehab, with the loan capped around 70 to 75% of the after-repair value. Expect a little less than that on your first one.

    Fix and flip loans traditionally start at a $100,000 loan amount and can close in seven days when the file is clean.

    I run a lender, so weigh that. Welcome aboard.

    0Reply
  • Mike Klarman
    Specialist · NJ · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 656 votes
    5h

    Mrs Bell, thank you for your service and you are doing an honorable thing. I think those who serve and their families are some of the most under appreciated people we have in society. I know I couldn't do it, but I also know someone has to so thank you.

    Being under capitalized is a common early roadblock. It is usually, honestly, a great thing in disguise. Imagine if you had 250k in capital sitting there, you'd probably or maybe may be in a deal already without really knowing what you are doing. I know some vets and they are serious people and I also watch lost of War documentaries. Military personnel are heavily trained. Knowledgeable about what they are doing. They're strategic. They're consistent and unwavering. You have those qualities are you could never be a marine.

    Pretend REI is the corp. Bring those same qualities. Get training on the key facets of REI: Sourcing, Financing, Project Management, Exit. Become knowledgeable in market fluctuations, appreciation values, and sales data. You'll show up everyday and put time in becoming someone who can really lead a REI LLC.

    If a Military Vet came to me and they also were very knowledgable in markets, financing, acquisitions, and were able to manage projects too? I'd invest.

    I always found education is the key to the capital restraint. The worst set-up in the world is someone with money who thinks they know what they are doing. Destined to be taught a hard lesson.

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