All Forum Posts by: Brendan Winans

Stephen, you’re in a real position to build something, but the key is to move with strategy, not emotion. You own an asset outright, that alone gives you options. But options only matter if you’re clear on what you’re trying to build.

You want to replace $50K in income. That’s the target. Everything should filter through that lens; how fast something cash flows, how much it costs to get there, and how hands-on it will be.

First step to consider is to get a zoning and land use report from the county. Don’t make assumptions. You need to know what’s allowed on your land before anything else. That includes septic, electric, water, and road access. You also need to understand how many units or vehicles you're allowed to place and what codes apply.

RV pads might feel like a last resort, but if zoning supports it, that could be your quickest path to cash flow. Especially if you can do it in phases. You don’t need to develop all three acres at once. Build one pad, rent it, and use that to fund the next.

You also have the option of bringing in a partner, someone who wants to place a manufactured home, or a small builder who sees value in joint ventures. You bring the land, they bring the capital or labor, and you structure it to get a share of income or equity. That only works if you stay in control of the land and terms.

Multifamily may be the goal, but it doesn’t need to be the first move. Focus on what gets you from zero to your first dollar of passive income. Once you have momentum, you can scale. Until then, it’s all theory.

You’re not stuck—you just need a clear path and the discipline to follow it.

Man, congrats! That's awesome, and exciting that you're getting into this. I think rather than asking what your next investment should be, I would encourage you to clearly identify your 2-3 year vision. Make sure it's specific and measurable. This will serve as a filter for your actions, and you can reverse engineer your "next steps" from there. Hit me up if you want to chat more about this. 

This is that middle market that is most often served by people/companies who do novations. I'd be happy to chat sometime if you're interested. 

Hey Ryan! Don't mean to echo anyone in here, but how are you sourcing your deals (on market, wholesalers, direct to seller, etc.)? What's your "buy box?" Buying right/Value add is one of the easier approaches to generating cashflow. I'd be more than happy to chat with you about this. 

@Karla Sosa I invest in, and own four-plexes here in Bakersfield. I'd be happy to share my experiences, and answer any questions you have. 

Hey @Neil Fray, welcome to Bakersfield! I've lived, worked and invested here for 14 years! I'd be happy to share what I know about the area. 

It looks like you've gotten some good options from some of the other guys on here. If it were me, I would be curious to see if pulling a HELOC would affect my DTI enough to impact what I qualify for on a purchase. If that's not a concern, then I suppose your "right choice" depends solely on what fits your family best.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. All the best!

Brendan P. Winans

I agree with the points made above. Bakersfield is a great CA city to invest in, as it has a low barrier to entry. I invest in Bakersfield personally, and have friends who have invested as well. Please let me know if there are any questions I can help answer. 

Great job, @Scott L. Schroeder! I'd love to hear more about the deal. Also, if at any point you have questions, or just want to bounce some ideas off of someone who's active in the market, don't hesitate to reach out!

@Jose Solis I live/work/invest in Bakersfield as well! I'd be happy to share some of my experiences. Feel free to reach out. 

@Shravan Majithia, it's definitely possible to cashflow, and I'd love the opportunity to talk more about it. Please feel free to connect. I can, without a doubt, help you with everything you mentioned. Have a great rest of your weekend. 

Be well,

Brendan