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All Forum Posts by: Wale Lawal

Wale Lawal has started 86 posts and replied 4436 times.

Post: Looking to buy first property next year, would love some advice!

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452
Quote from @Kevin Liu:

@Wale Lawal

Thank you for the response. You mentioned "consider small multifamily properties if you want to scale faster" and I'm curious why small multifamily would scale faster than SFHs?




 Economy of scale because of multiple units. Thank you

Post: Seeking Advice: Moving from CT to GA — House Hacking and Long-Term Investment Goals

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452
Quote from @Paul Meiners:
Quote from @Wale Lawal:

@Paul Meiners

Welcome to the next chapter—sounds like you’re making smart, intentional moves for your family’s future! With around $70K and a flexible starting point in Macon, you're in a strong position to house hack in areas within 1–2 hours of Dallas, GA. I'd suggest looking at markets like Cartersville, Rome, and even parts of West Cobb County—these areas are more affordable than metro Atlanta but still offer solid rental demand. Since you're new to Georgia, focus on building relationships with a local investor-friendly agent and property manager early—they can help you navigate neighborhoods to target or avoid.

Good luck!




Thanks so much — I really appreciate the insight and encouragement!


We’re definitely trying to make smart, long-term moves that work for both our family and our future investment goals. Starting out in Macon gives us some breathing room to reset, and we’re being strategic about placing our first couple of house hacks within 1–1.5 hours of Dallas, GA, since we have family there.


I’ll definitely take a closer look at Cartersville, Rome, and West Cobb — affordability with rental demand is exactly what we’re after. We’ll be self-managing our first couple of properties to stay hands-on and maximize cash flow while we get established.



 All the best!

Post: New to Real Estate- Eager to learn and network

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452

@Daisy Abrajan

Welcome to the world of real estate investing, it's great that you and your partner are taking the time to learn and network before diving in! Wilmington is a solid market with potential for both long-term and short-term rentals, especially near the coast where tourism stays strong. My advice: start by getting to know the local zoning laws and STR regulations, then connect with an investor-friendly agent who knows the Wilmington market well. When you're ready to take action, focus on one strategy first to gain momentum before branching out.

Good luck!

Post: What's the best strategy?

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452

@Christopher Piper

Great question and sounds like you're sitting on some strong equity and creative potential! If your current rental has a 3% mortgage and is cash-flowing, that's a rare asset worth thinking twice before selling. Using your existing HELOC to fund the new build could preserve that low-rate asset while still boosting cash flow, even if the return is a bit lower due to interest. However, if the projected income from the new units is truly 10x your current cash flow and you're confident in the demand, it may justify the sale—just make sure to account for capital gains and opportunity cost. DM me and I'll help you run the numbers more precisely and connect you with the right local pros in Texas.

Good luck!

Post: Looking to buy first property next year, would love some advice!

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452

@Kevin Liu

You're in a fantastic position—$130K is a strong start, especially in a market like Indianapolis. Yes, many of those pre-1940s homes can cash flow well, but you're right to assume they often need significant rehab—think electrical, plumbing, roofs, and HVAC. With your budget, you could definitely pull off a solid BRRRR on the right deal or even consider small multifamily properties if you want to scale faster. For estimating rehab costs, I recommend building a basic cost-per-square-foot spreadsheet for common repairs and leaning on a local contractor or investor-friendly agent early—Zillow won't give you enough info, so seeing the property in person or getting a local boots-on-the-ground partner is key.

Good luck!

Post: Seeking Advice: Moving from CT to GA — House Hacking and Long-Term Investment Goals

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452

@Paul Meiners

Welcome to the next chapter—sounds like you’re making smart, intentional moves for your family’s future! With around $70K and a flexible starting point in Macon, you're in a strong position to house hack in areas within 1–2 hours of Dallas, GA. I'd suggest looking at markets like Cartersville, Rome, and even parts of West Cobb County—these areas are more affordable than metro Atlanta but still offer solid rental demand. Since you're new to Georgia, focus on building relationships with a local investor-friendly agent and property manager early—they can help you navigate neighborhoods to target or avoid.

Good luck!

Post: New To Real Estate Investing, Looking To Househack By Next Year Ideally

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452

@Finnick Fires

Welcome to the journey! You're already ahead of the game by educating yourself and getting involved early! House hacking in Pflugerville or North Austin is a smart move, especially with the area's steady growth and strong rental demand. I'd recommend looking at duplexes or triplexes where you can live in one unit and rent the others—FHA or conventional loans with low down payments could work in your favor. Focus on running the numbers conservatively and connecting with local lenders and agents who understand investment strategies. DM me and I'll point you in the right direction with some resources and contacts in the area.

Good luck!

Post: Has Anyone Used Real Wealth Network for Turnkey Properties? + Advice on Investing 20

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452

@Jay Styles

With $20K to invest and plans to move within a year, you're in a great spot to start small and smart. Turnkey providers like Real Wealth Network can be helpful for out-of-state investing, especially if you're busy—but always vet the property, market, and team thoroughly. In Texas, markets like San Antonio, Houston, and parts of DFW still offer solid cash-flow potential and investor-friendly laws. You might consider a partner-friendly market and possibly use that $20K toward a down payment on a small single-family rental with local property management in place. DM me and I’ll point you in the right direction based on your goals and timeline.

Good luck!

Post: What to do with current house? Investor Advice Appreciated

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452

@Brett Hushon

Since you own your Raleigh home outright, you have a great opportunity to let that asset work for you. If the home's in a desirable area, turning it into a long-term rental can generate steady, passive income and continue building equity. An STR could offer higher returns, but only if local regulations allow and you're prepared to manage the extra work—or hire a property manager. Selling could give you cash for future investments, but if you don't need the funds immediately, holding onto it as a rental is often the smarter wealth-building move.

Good luck!

Post: New to real estate Investing

Wale Lawal
Posted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX
  • Posts 4,610
  • Votes 2,452

@Jordan McCray

Welcome and congrats on taking that first big step—house hacking is a fantastic way to build wealth early, especially in a market like Marietta! Since you're just getting started, I'd recommend looking for a small multifamily (like a duplex or triplex) where you can live in one unit and rent out the others—FHA loans can be a great option with low down payments. Be sure to run your numbers conservatively—include vacancy, repairs, and property management even if you self-manage at first. Also, start networking with local investors and real estate agents who know the area well—they can help you find off-market deals or hidden gems.

Good luck!