New investor looking for a mentor in Union, Hudson, or Bergen County, NJ

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New investor looking for a mentor in Union, Hudson, or Bergen County, NJ

Olivia Tirso
New to Real Estate · Elizabeth, NJ · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 1 vote

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new to real estate investing and looking to learn from someone experienced in Union, Hudson, or Bergen County.

My goal is to house hack a 2–4 unit property, ideally a triplex or quadplex, in the next few years. I would be a first-time buyer, currently building my savings, and I've been learning about FHA and 5%-down conventional loans.

What I'm hoping to learn:
- How to analyze multi-family deals in North Jersey
- Which towns and neighborhoods make sense for a first house hack
- What to watch out for as a first-time landlord in NJ

I'm happy to help in return however I can, whether that's shadowing showings, helping with research or deal analysis, or anything tech-related. I'm currently getting my master's degree in computer science, so spreadsheets, websites, and data work are right up my alley.

If you're open to mentoring, grabbing coffee, or just pointing me to good local meetups, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for reading!

Olivia Tirso

1Reply
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Matthew MorrowBusiness Member
Investor · PA - NY - NJ · Member since 2019 · 829 posts · 288 votes
1d

@Olivia Tirso welcome. I can speak to the house hack side. My first deal was a house my family lived in while we fixed it up, and living there is what made the numbers work early on. When you look at a triplex or quad, I'd compare what it costs you to live there against what you pay in rent now, not against a pure rental. Offering to shadow showings is a good move, and local meetups are where I'd look for a mentor. My team works in NJ and all of my agents are investors themselves, so if you want a local resource up your way I'm happy to connect you with one. No pitch, just someone to learn from.

[email protected]484-791-6200
CORE Team | Realty ONE Group Supreme548 Reviews
WebsiteView Page
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  • Matthew MorrowBusiness Member
    Investor · PA - NY - NJ · Member since 2019 · 829 posts · 288 votes
    1d

    @Olivia Tirso welcome. I can speak to the house hack side. My first deal was a house my family lived in while we fixed it up, and living there is what made the numbers work early on. When you look at a triplex or quad, I'd compare what it costs you to live there against what you pay in rent now, not against a pure rental. Offering to shadow showings is a good move, and local meetups are where I'd look for a mentor. My team works in NJ and all of my agents are investors themselves, so if you want a local resource up your way I'm happy to connect you with one. No pitch, just someone to learn from.

    [email protected]484-791-6200
    CORE Team | Realty ONE Group Supreme548 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
    • Olivia Tirso
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Elizabeth, NJ · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 1 vote
      1d

      Thank you for commenting! I appreciate your feedback and yes of course Id love to connect to learn more.

      0Reply
  • Nicholas L.Pro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Pittsburgh · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    23h

    @Olivia Tirso

    welcome. I would just go to meetups and network, I wouldn't "look for a mentor." RE investors love to talk shop. so ask all the questions you want.

    House hacking is a powerful way to get started so it's great that you're pursuing it.

    happy to answer any questions you have and nothing to sell.

    1Reply
  • J CastroBusiness Member
    Lender · Florida · Member since 2025 · 743 posts · 263 votes
    21h
    Quote from @Olivia Tirso:

    Hi everyone,

    I'm brand new to real estate investing and looking to learn from someone experienced in Union, Hudson, or Bergen County.

    My goal is to house hack a 2–4 unit property, ideally a triplex or quadplex, in the next few years. I would be a first-time buyer, currently building my savings, and I've been learning about FHA and 5%-down conventional loans.

    What I'm hoping to learn:
    - How to analyze multi-family deals in North Jersey
    - Which towns and neighborhoods make sense for a first house hack
    - What to watch out for as a first-time landlord in NJ

    I'm happy to help in return however I can, whether that's shadowing showings, helping with research or deal analysis, or anything tech-related. I'm currently getting my master's degree in computer science, so spreadsheets, websites, and data work are right up my alley.

    If you're open to mentoring, grabbing coffee, or just pointing me to good local meetups, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for reading!

    Olivia Tirso

    Hi @Olivia Tirso welcome to BP and to the world of real estate investing!
    House hacking a 2–4 unit property can be a great way to get started, build equity, and gain hands-on experience as a landlord.

    My advice would be to start attending local real estate meetups and networking with investors, landlords, real estate agents, and other professionals in the industry. You'll learn a lot by meeting people who are actively doing deals, listening to their experiences, and building relationships naturally. Personally, I would focus on networking and getting involved in the local investing community rather than specifically looking for a mentor. The right connections often develop organically over time.

    It's also smart that you're researching financing options and analyzing deals before making your first purchase. Understanding rental income, property taxes, operating expenses, renovation costs, and financing terms will be essential when evaluating multifamily properties in North Jersey.

    At JCREIG Capital Funding, we work with real estate investors and provide financing solutions for investment properties, including multifamily and value-add projects. I'd be happy to connect and discuss financing options that may support your future investment goals.

    Wishing you success as you begin your real estate investing journey!

    JCREIG Capital Funding
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
    • Olivia Tirso
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Elizabeth, NJ · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 1 vote
      20h

      Awesome thank you for the advice! I will definitely look into meet ups to network. Id love to connect!

      0Reply
  • J CastroBusiness Member
    Lender · Florida · Member since 2025 · 743 posts · 263 votes
    21h
    Quote from @Olivia Tirso:

    Hi everyone,

    I'm brand new to real estate investing and looking to learn from someone experienced in Union, Hudson, or Bergen County.

    My goal is to house hack a 2–4 unit property, ideally a triplex or quadplex, in the next few years. I would be a first-time buyer, currently building my savings, and I've been learning about FHA and 5%-down conventional loans.

    What I'm hoping to learn:
    - How to analyze multi-family deals in North Jersey
    - Which towns and neighborhoods make sense for a first house hack
    - What to watch out for as a first-time landlord in NJ

    I'm happy to help in return however I can, whether that's shadowing showings, helping with research or deal analysis, or anything tech-related. I'm currently getting my master's degree in computer science, so spreadsheets, websites, and data work are right up my alley.

    If you're open to mentoring, grabbing coffee, or just pointing me to good local meetups, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for reading!

    Olivia Tirso

    I would recommend checking out some local Real Estate Investment Association (REIA) meetups in your area. Attending these events is a great way to network with active investors, learn from their experiences, and build relationships with other professionals in the real estate industry.

    Here are a few resources to get you started:

    My advice is to attend a few meetings, ask questions, listen to other investors' experiences, and focus on building relationships within the local investing community. You’ll gain valuable insights and may connect with people who can help you navigate your first investment.

    Best of luck with your real estate investing journey!

    JCREIG Capital Funding
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
    • Olivia Tirso
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Elizabeth, NJ · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 1 vote
      20h

      Thank you for the resources, I will give these a look. I appreciate this so much thank you again!

      0Reply
  • Joseph ScoreseBusiness Member
    Banker · Philadelphia · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 642 votes
    20h

    Olivia, welcome to the world of real estate investing! I like your approach. You're taking the time to educate yourself, build your savings, and understand the numbers before jumping into your first deal. That's a great place to start.

    I've been in mortgage and private lending for over 20 years, and I'm also a licensed real estate agent in NJ and PA. I work with real estate investors throughout the country, from those purchasing their first property to experienced investors building portfolios.

    House hacking a 2–4 unit property can be a great way to get started, especially in North Jersey, but understanding property taxes, rental income, operating expenses, and local landlord regulations is just as important as finding the right property.

    One thing I'd encourage you to do is start analyzing deals now, even if you're a couple of years away from purchasing. You'll be surprised how much you learn by running the numbers and following the local markets.

    I'm always happy to share my experience, talk through investment strategies, or introduce you to people in the industry. No sales pitch, just a conversation.

    Feel free to reach out. I'd be happy to grab coffee or jump on a Zoom call.

    Joseph V. Scorese

    1Reply
    • Olivia Tirso
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Elizabeth, NJ · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 1 vote
      20h

      Thank you Joseph for your reply! I appreciate the feedback and advice. Id love to connect and learn more.

      0Reply
  • Derek BrickleyBusiness Member
    Lender · Ann Arbor, MI · Member since 2021 · 681 posts · 231 votes
    14h

    Hey Olivia!

    Matthew and Nicholas are spot on, meetups are where you'll find your people. Started with a househack myself, so one thing I'd add on the analysis side since you're looking at triplexes and quads: run the numbers the way the lender will, using about 75% of the other units' rents instead of the full amount. With FHA, a 3 or 4 unit also has to pass a self sufficiency test where that 75% covers the whole payment, which can be tough at North Jersey prices, so the 5% conventional route or a duplex often pencils out easier. Both of my househacks I did the 5% conventional route. Feel free to reach out, happy to go through those options with you if you'd like!

    [email protected]734-645-7722
    Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group548 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
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