All Forum Posts by: Apostoli S Hillas

Hey BP Community, I need help finding my path to getting into real estate. To give some background, I am a 21-year-old engineering graduate and just started my first salary job ($80,000+), living in Salt Lake City, UT. I have some real estate experience as a commercial real estate agent for the last few years. I currently have about $30,000 I am planning to invest and I don't have any student debt, credit card bills, or "real" expenses (I live at home). Right now I am looking for a starting point to invest while I have the opportunity to save my money without life expenses.

I need advice on what creative ways I can invest my cash or finance deals. I can do in-state, out-of-state, anything. I have a preference for cash-flowing properties, but they are hard to find in my area. I am also willing to do vacation rentals, wholesaling, BRRR, fixer-up properties, off-market deals, fix & flips, etc... I have a pretty wide range of types of real estate I am looking into, but I lack knowledge into what is feasible for me (especially in terms of what I can finance). As far as financing goes, I have now a steady income (although a small history), a FICO score over 760 (but never had a loan), and my dad who could co-sign if needed. I know there are a million ways to invest and everyone has their path, so I just need some direction to find what will work the best for me. Any advice on what investments seem to fit my situation and finances would be a huge help to getting me started.

And if there is anyone in the Salt Lake Valley who is willing discuss further, please feel free to reach out. 

Thank you all!

Hey Sawyer,

I found myself in the same situation when I was 16. I am only 19 now so I do not have too much to say on this but I'll tell you what I did and my plan (just to give a different perspective than getting in on a deal with your parents). I started by reading books and learning as much as I can about how real estate and business. This includes books that talk about specific strategies of investing, broad categories, investing mentality books (like Rich Dad Poor Dad), business books, marketing books, sales books, mindset books, etc... Start reading and learning as much as you can about everything that creates success. 

Then I found myself in a money dilemma. How am I supposed to generate income to invest? I am still trying to figure this out but am working on some solutions. First, I am working on my credit to retrieve bank loans. I want to get an FHA loan which requires only a 3.5% down payment. The other ways I am working on this was getting a wage job and I am currently working on an online dropshipping business.

But then I wondered how I can get capital by learning and working in real estate simultaneously. So I went and got my real estate license because I figured if I can make money in this area, I will have plenty of knowledge of my market and capital to start investing. I am currently learning real estate and have worked on a few deals with some generous partners, but it will sprawl a little bigger once I can really get a grip on it. 

Anyways, that's just my story so far on what I did from your scenario. Lets stay in touch and best of luck on your journey!

Everybody always says to "know your market". A question that always follows is "how"? This is the dilemma I am stuck in currently. I am a new commercial real estate agent and I am looking for answers on how I can develop an understanding of my market and what I need to do. It is a little more difficult because a lot of the information on sold and leased commercial properties is kept private and not open on platforms like the MLS for the most part. I am hoping somebody could get me on the path to how to learn my commercial market and what inside the market I need to know to become a successful commercial agent.

Thank You,

Apo

@Dan Gustavson

Yeah I’d really like to do something like that as well with my primary focus on college. Thank you!

@Tanner Stoddard

Ok thank you so much! I’ve see some YouTube videos suggesting similar things to you and will be something I will start shortly!

@David M.

Thanks for the advice! Gives me a whole new approach to my next few years in life and especially with getting a job and internship in the law and real estate fields. I’ll really take that into consideration. But thanks again and I’ll be sure to reach out if I have more questions. Thank you!

@Forrest Faulconer

Thank you so much for the advice! It really does help and mean a lot to me!

I am a teenager who is in dire need of help before I decide my future!

I do plan on going to college at the University of Utah as I have excelled at school and am going to pay for college with scholarships and parental aid. Although I plan on going to Law School, I really want to start real estate investing as soon as I can which is probably before I graduate. I would really appreciate some advice on my college pursuit and if there is a better suited degree that will actually help me in my real estate desires (more than a JD). Also I am curious if there are any real estate related jobs out there for me, as a 17 year old, to gain knowledge in the game. Although I do plan on getting a mentor, I would like to have a job, mentorship, and college pursuit that could help me get ahead in real estate early. Any feedback, positive or negative, but honest, will be very appreciated and personally acknowledged.

Another problem I am starting to run into is getting started in investing in real estate as an 18 year old. I know what area of real estate I want to pursue already (rental properties), but am unaware of what steps I need to take to being able to purchase my first rental by the time I am 20. I already read books, listen to podcasts, help my dad with his real estate, etc.. but I need to know the more technical details of getting started such as raising my credit, qualifying for loans, potential tax deductions, and any thing else I should know to be qualified to invest in my first property. So I would also really appreciate any tips on what I need to start doing now to be ready to invest in the near future. 

Lastly, for my AP Research class for high school, I am required to conduct my own research and come up with a new solution/idea of any research topic of choice. I am going to be spending a lot of time during and away from school, so I want to focus on a business or real estate related topic that will actually benefit me for my future. If anyone has any problems they constantly run into or know of suggestions for a research topic, I am open to listen.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my post! Again, any feedback, positive or negative, but honest, will be very appreciated and personally acknowledged!

-Apostoli Hillas

@Heather Frusco

Great information and reason for the spread of the virus. Very helpful for now and future reference.

I am 16 years old and have decided that I want to start a career of real estate after high school. I need advice on how I can start early and anything I can do to be ahead of the game by the time I start investing. For the past couple months I’ve been reading books and thats how I got here by reading “How to invest in real estate”.