All Forum Posts by: Brandon Bozarth

Welcome to BP Seth, I am pretty new to Real Estate Investing (REI) also. I have about 11 years experience doing construction in the military. If you have any questions on fixing a property up just ask.

I have learned a ton on BP so far. My advice in starting out is listen to the BP podcasts in your car everyday on your commute to work. I have listened to 60 shows so far and everyday I learn a few new things during what I would call waisted time driving to work.

Thanks for the mention @Joe Ellis. Unfortunately I won't be back in Las Vegas until late May. In full disclosure I don't have my GC license but do have 12 years experience in construction. I would be happy to answer any questions though @Michael C Gregory.

After two months on BP now, listening to 40 of the BP Podcasts and really thinking about the advice everyone has, it's made me realize life is to short to do a job I hate (thanks to @Paula Pant). I am currently Active Duty in the Air Force and getting ready to separate (and move back to Las Vegas) in the next 4- 6 months. I plan on getting into REI part-time until I have enough experience and passive income to make it my only job.

Getting out of the military is a big leap of faith for my family and I, but I have learned (thanks to @Josh Dorkin & @Brandon Turner with their famous four question) the successful investors are the ones that are relentless, don't give up, and act on there dreams. So I figured if I can get a 9-5 job starting out in some aspect or REI or property management and learn everything I can, I will be that much closer to my goal of wholesaling and, or fix and flip to raise cash and then eventually transition into a buy and hold strategy.

From listening to the podcasts one of the hardest things for investors to find is a good and honest contractor/project manager. With my 12 years of experience doing construction in the Air Force and rehabbing my last two homes I am hoping that experience can bring a needed element to an investor looking to higher/mentor someone like me. I would love to work with/for an experienced investor in the Las Vegas valley, and realized this would be the best place to start networking. Any advice or referrals would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance! I am so amazed by all the awesome advice on BP and look forward to helping out others, once I have some deals under my belt!

I would love to see a military REI forum. I was just doing a search last night about this topic and was very surprised to see how many active/retired are on BP.

Elizabeth Colegrove Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely repost this.

@Christopher T@Glenn Espinosa@James Vermillion

I realize this is a really old post, but it really relates to my current situation. I am currently Active Duty in the Air Force and getting ready to separate in the next 4- 6 months. After reading your post Chris we have a lot in common, I am tired of deployments and want to establish a passive income to support my growing family. I am originally from So Cal (Tustin) and plan on moving back to Las Vegas. I am curious how your transition from Military to Civilian life went and especially getting into REI. Any advice looking back at it now? Did you jump right into REI or did you start with a 9-5?

My thinking currently is to get a 9-5 job in some aspect of REI or property management as I want to start out in Wholesaling and, or Fix and Flip to raise cash and then eventually transition into buy and hold. Currently I have a SFR in Vegas and plan on renting my home in Newport News, Virginia once I separate. I have 12 years experience doing construction in the AF and hoping I can find an investor or PM in Nevada to work my a** off for and learn the business. From listening the the BP Podcasts (Currently up to show 27) one of the hardest things for investors to find is a good and honest contractor... hoping my construction experience can bring a needed element to the table. I would love to work for an investor as their Project Manager.

Thanks in advance! I am so amazed by all the awesome advice on BP and look forward to helping out others once I have some deals under my belt!

@Charlie Fitzgerald, @Joe Ellis, @Phillip Dwyer

I do have a good friend that is ready to get into RE with me, we have talked about doing our first deal together like you were talking about Charlie, and I would love to have lunch and get some good contacts! 

I will be out of Active duty and just in the reserves, will be getting a construction job full time to start Phillip. So I actually have already used my VA loan twice. I own my first house still in north vegas and rent it out, with about $50 positive cash flow ( not much but have been upside down on it since I bought in late 2008). I also own my current house in Virginia (where I live currently) but plan on selling or renting it (haven't decided yet) in the next few months before I move back to vegas.

One of my biggest questions is starting out with 10k a realistic amount of cash to do a N/O/O deal? Seems like the lowest loan amount is 100k and 20% down is 20k, not to mention closing cost and then rehab costs. One option I was looking at was using my 401k ($25k) to help fund things. Does anyone have any experience with that? Is that a wise idea? Any fees come with that?

Do you have another meet up planned Phillip, sounds like a great way to network and have been wanting to try Nacho Daddy.

Once again thanks for all the advice and the warm welcome everyone!

Very inspiring story! Thanks for sharing... Good Luck!

Joe Ellis and Charlie Fitzgerald Thanks everyone for your replies. Glad to see a lot of previous AF. Do any of you have advice on what the best niche is in Vegas currently? I am still reading up on all the different ways to invest with little to no money but know those kinds of deals are hard to find. I have about $10k to play with and like the sounds of a condo around $40-50k with good cash flow. I wouldn't mind a fixer upper as I could do most of the work myself. Is there much of a market for that right now? Does this seem like a good goal?

I am looking to get into flipping homes in the Las Vegas area, I will be moving back to Nevada in a few month and want to start networking with other investors. I have spent the last 11 years in the Air Force doing construction and carpentry. I am excited and very motivated to get into real estate investing and looking for any advice. Like wise if anyone has any questions about construction I would be happy to share what I know. Look forward to meet everyone and thanks in advance!

Brandon