Accidentally successful flip, now all in on RE.

Jacksonville, Florida
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Accidentally successful flip, now all in on RE.

Morgan Rivera
Real Estate Agent · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 3 posts · 4 votes

Hi! I purchased a home at the end of '24 with the intention of slowly renovating it (it was a true '70's time capsule) but by the end of '25 I was done with the work and kind of in love with the house. I was laid off in Jan. of 2026 so I decided to sell which was sad but necessary, since I loved the house, and was far more successful than I anticipated. The profit gave me enough cushion to pursue real estate full time and I got my real estate license a couple of months ago. I've now purchased two properties and am under contract to sell the first on Nov. 16th.

My goal is to buy 2-3 flips, then a LTR, then rinse and repeat. That said, I don't know that this is actually the best strategy and am here to learn from others! I'm currently funding my deals with 100% of my own cash (plus a 0% interest business credit card) but know that I need to start using bank money. I am terribly risk averse which makes it incredibly ironic that I'm going all in on real estate!

More than anything I'd love a mentor that I can meet with IRL (what can I say, I'm old school) but hope to use Bigger Pockets as the next best option for learning.

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Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
6d

Keep paying cash.. only borrow if you absolutely need to ..

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  • Vaibhav PuranikPro Member
    Member since 2025 · 93 posts · 52 votes
    1w

    Best strategy is what you are comfortable with and what you think you can execute. Especially when you are relatively newer. Other's recipes will hardly work out for you. Listen to your own heart and keep going forward. You can keep learning from others and see if some of those things are doable by you. I don't believe that just because a person did it this way, I should be able to do it as well. Everybody's situation, risk tolerance is different. You can push yourself once you establish yourself little more.

    [email protected]
    2Reply
    • Morgan Rivera
      OP
      Real Estate Agent · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 3 posts · 4 votes
      3d

      Very, very sound advice! Thank you :)

      1Reply
  • Caleb Brown
    Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1w

    Nice job starting out! Welcome to BiggerPockets

    2Reply
  • Matthew Tregoning
    Property Manager · Melbourne, FL · Member since 2019 · 394 posts · 163 votes
    1w

    Welcome, Morgan. Turning that 70s time capsule into a home you hated to leave sounds like a lot of work worth unpacking. For those mentor conversations, bringing the original scope, actual timeline and a few before-and-after photos could give people something concrete to help you review. Which part of that renovation surprised you most once the work started?

    1Reply
  • Jaron WallingPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    1w

    That's really exciting! Live-in-flips are amazing. I wish I could go back in time and do more of those.

    2Reply
    • Morgan Rivera
      OP
      Real Estate Agent · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2025 · 3 posts · 4 votes
      3d

      I definitely wish I'd started sooner, too!

      0Reply
  • Brad SeidBusiness Member
    Lender · Licensed in 28 States · Member since 2026 · 187 posts · 58 votes
    1w

    @Morgan Rivera Congratulations on making the leap into real estate full time! If you're ready to explore financing beyond your own cash, I'd be happy to connect and help you look into lending options for your flips and long-term rentals. Feel free to reach out anytime!

    [email protected]248-408-3855
    West Capital Lending5128 Reviews
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    2Reply
  • Stevan Stojakovic
    Financial Advisor · FL · Member since 2024 · 467 posts · 114 votes
    6d

    Congrats on making the leap full-time, Morgan! Hitting that second deal so fast after a layoff is a massive win.

    Self-funding gives you great control early on, but you're spot on, using debt is how you protect your liquidity and scale safely.

    For your flip-to-LTR strategy, look into short-term bridge-to-DSCR loans. They fund the rehab fast and seamlessly roll into long-term cash-flow financing without draining your cash. Check out local investor meetups in Jax for in-person connections. Best of luck on your Nov. 16th closing and feel free to reach out for any help or advice going forward!

    2Reply
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    6d

    Keep paying cash.. only borrow if you absolutely need to ..

    Podcast Guest on Show #222
    JLH Capital Partners51 Review
    WebsiteView Page
    3Reply
  • Matthew MorrowBusiness Member
    Investor · PA - NY - NJ · Member since 2019 · 714 posts · 250 votes
    6d

    @Morgan Rivera Welcome, and congrats on the first one! Being risk averse is a good thing in this business. Flipping a couple and then holding a rental is a solid way to build. Just be careful leaning on that 0% card, those promo rates end fast and the payments don't care if the flip runs long. BP is a huge resource, so dive in. Best of luck! 👍

    [email protected]484-791-6200
    CORE Team | Realty ONE Group Supreme547 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Charmaine Mullings
    Nationwide · Member since 2025 · 6 posts · 3 votes
    4d

    Welcome and congratulations!🎊

    1Reply
  • Ashley RigsbeePro Member
    Customer Success & Onboarding Specialist at BiggerPockets · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2023 · 115 posts · 45 votes
    3d

    Love this intro, Morgan! An accidental flip that turned into a new career path is a great story. What's your next move: another flip, or buy and hold?

    BiggerPockets
    0Reply
  • Calvin Drake
    Wholesaler · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2023 · 16 posts · 5 votes
    2d

    That's awesome Morgan! My first flip was actually a move in flip too haha. Great way to get your feet wet!

    0Reply
  • Nicholas FloydBusiness Member
    NY · Member since 2026 · 305 posts · 101 votes
    1d

    Morgan, first off, congratulations on your success! Turning what started as a personal renovation into a real estate investing career is impressive.

    One thing that stood out to me is that you’re funding your deals primarily with your own cash. That’s actually something I talk about with investors quite often. Having cash reserves is important, but tying up too much of your own money can make it harder to take advantage of additional opportunities.

    I specialize in helping business owners and real estate investors access capital through 0% APR business credit cards, business lines of credit, business loans, and other funding options. Depending on the situation, these can help preserve cash reserves while giving investors more flexibility to scale.

    Since you’re already using a 0% business credit card, you’re familiar with one of those strategies. The key is making sure the financing fits your timeline and risk tolerance.

    I’m curious, as you work toward doing 2–3 flips at a time, is your biggest concern taking on debt, or figuring out how to structure the funding without putting too much of your personal cash at risk?

    0Reply
  • Jaycee GreenePro Member
    Real Estate Consultant · St. Louis MSA · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 727 votes
    1d

    Congrats on your flip, @Morgan Rivera . I read your reference to the profit you made on your accidental flip, but what are you targeting in terms of your "return"?

    [email protected]
    0Reply
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